Rafiullah Mandokhail
Zhob
“128 kilometers Gustoi road connecting Zhob with bordering areas is yet to be completed despite the passage of five years due to poor planning and reportedly ‘corruption’. Planning and Development department had allocated Rs 700 million and handed over the project to Balochistan Development Authority in 2005 but despite the release of Rs 250 million the construction work has not been completed so for, ” said Malik-e-Aala Abdul Rehman Mandokhail, while talking to this scribe here on Thursday.
He said the construction work on Gustoi road has been started in 2015 from Killi Maryama to Bahlool Gustoi area with an estimated cost of Rs 700 million but no progress on the road has been made during the last five years.
“Inordinate delay in completion of the road has prolonged miseries of thousands of people from dozens of villages along the road.
The area people have time and again drawn the attention of the officials concerned towards the slow pace of work and filed a corruption case with National Accountability Bauru Balochistan, but to no avail,” he lamented.
The notable said, the constructed culverts on the road have either been washed away or developed cracks before the road completion. The people of the areas are facing immense problems particularly during rainy days as the rain water creates more hardships. He said.
“According to the Planning Commission of Pakistan’s rules, a project that costs over 300 million must have a project director, but surprisingly, the Gustoi road that costs 700 million is running without a project director and the work has been hand over to local sub-contractors who have so for withdrawn 250 million from P&D department.
Meanwhile, the BDA officials were repeatedly contacted for their version, but they did not respond.
“If the project is completed, it will make easy access to the Gateway on Pak-Afghan border and connect dozens of villages of Mandokhail, Lawoon and Mardanzai tribes with the city,” he added.
It is to be mentioned that the gateway was inaugurated by former president Parvez Musharaf to boost trade with neighboring Afghanistan and to promote economic cooperation with Central Asian countries.
