Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Service Murad Saeed has launched the E-billing system in the National Highway Authority (NHA) aimed at ensuring good governance and transparency. According to NHA, the system will ensure speedy processing of bills and transparency. This will ultimately help control corruption besides saving time by 50 percent.
Federal Secretary Communications, Jawwad Rafique Malik, Chairman NHA, Capt ® Sikandar Qayyum, Senior Officers from Ministry of Communications and NHA also attended the launching ceremony.
A detailed briefing was given regarding working of the E-Billing System in which it was told that the contractor will submit a bill at NHA E-Billing Portal and the Consultant will verify/certify the bill. Project Authority will exercise laid down check, and sanction payment. Finance Wing will process and accord approval of payment, prior to the release of payment to the beneficiary.
Speaking on the occasion, Murad Saeed said that e-billing system is meant to ensure transparency, eradicate corruption, save cost and time, increase efficiency and effectiveness and improve managerial control, besides facilitating contractors. All highways will be connected to the mobile system.
He said that the Prime Minister had given the vision for providing good governance and e-governance, on the one hand, brings transparency and plays a role in the eradication of corruption and malpractices. E-billing system is part of e-governance program of the PTI government, which will help save time and eradicate the commission culture, he added.
Pragmatic measures are being taken to control corruption through transparency. He recalled that good governance can put the country on track towards development.
He informed that E-Billing System was developed in house through the use of resources of NHA. The system will help redressal of complaints and fixing of responsibility in case of any delay. He further said, the system will create an atmosphere of mutual confidence between NHA and Contractors. He said, steps are being taken to increase the revenue of NHA through the utilization of its Right of Way (ROW). Clean and Green Pakistan is being started from next month, the Federal Minister added.
The minister further said that while pursuing accountability, the NHA has recovered Rs 7 billion and generated Rs 43 billion revenue, increasing 51.25 percent revenue this year. “In five years, the National Highway will increase its revenue by 100%”, he added. He said NHA also recovered 448 Kanal land from land grabbers.
The Minister said Communications Ministry is also contributing to Clean and Green Pakistan drive and will plant millions of saplings from 1st to 14 August this year.
He further said that accountability of the plunderers is in progress as Pakistan drowned in debt due to personal gains and high expenditures of its past rulers whereas Prime Minister Imran’s visit to the US is an example of austerity.
Ali mahar