I personally guarantee Hyderabad-Sukkur motorway will be built: Muhammad Aurangzeb

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Thursday witnessed a heated debate over the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway’s exclusion from the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), with opposition lawmakers accusing the government of regional discrimination while ministers assured the project remains a priority. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb attempted vowed that he would personally guarantee the motorway will be built, and promised to convey funding demands to Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal.

The issue was raised through a call-attention notice by PPP’s Sharmila Farooqi, who questioned why Punjab’s infrastructure projects were being fast-tracked while a critical Sindh initiative has witnessed no progress. “Work continues on Punjab’s schemes, but this vital motorway connecting two major Sindh cities remains neglected.”

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Responding to concerns, State Minister Armaghan Subhani confirmed the 306-km motorway’s strategic importance, revealing: “Azerbaijan has shown interest in this project, which is being pursued on priority. Financing arrangements are currently being finalised.” Parliamentary Secretary Gul Asghar Khan echoed this, stating loan procurement was underway.

The debate took a another turn when PPP’s Naveed Qamar challenged government claims, noting: “The PSDP being prepared doesn’t allocate funds matching the motorway’s requirements.” His colleague Ijaz Jhakrani demanded concrete budget allocations rather than assurances.

Treasury benches faced cross-party criticism, with PML-N’s Abdul Qadir Gillani alleging “blatant discrimination against South Punjab and Sindh.” Surprisingly, MQM’s Syed Hafeezuddin backed PPP’s stance, creating rare opposition unity. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal downplayed tensions, stating allied parties would resolve the matter.

The session concluded with Deputy Speaker directing Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal to address parliament on Friday regarding PSDP allocations, as concerns persist about equitable development funding across provinces.