ISLAMABAD: National Highway Auth­­ority chairman Jawwad Rafique Malik on Friday expressed displeasure over what he called ‘poor performance’ of the authority and took action against some officials responsible for bad performance.

He made these observations during an important meeting held at the NHA headquarters. Some important decisions were also taken to improve the performance of the authority. Members and general managers of the premier countrywide road network authority attended the meeting.

According to an NHA spokesman, the NHA chief expressed resentment over poor performance of the NHA’s legal wing and suggested immediate remedial measures to revamp the wing.

He directed that the NHA’s director legal, being head of the bureau, would report directly to the chairman and would be responsible for proper handling of legal affairs of the authority.

On the basis of ‘bad performance’, legal advisers, Advocate Aurangzeb Asad and Zaheer Ahmad Qadri have been removed.

NHA’s Member West Zone Tufail Sheikh who is posted at Quetta office was made the officer on special duty. He was directed to report to administration wing at the NHA headquarters.

Shahid Ehsanullah has been posted as member West Zone NHA Quetta who will be responsible for construction, maintenance and administrative affairs of the authority in the relevant zone.

The NHA chairman also expressed dissatisfaction over maintenance work of roads and directed to submit a comprehensive proposal for establishment of a separate maintenance wing to be headed by a member level officer to keep roads in good condition. Reviewing the SOP regarding maintenance of roads, he directed to handle the maintenance matters in a more proper way to save the roads from damage.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2019