Lilongwe, February 17: Minister of Transport and Public Works Sidik Mia has said his Ministry is committed to upgrading road infrastructure in tourist attraction areas since tourism is one of the focus areas in Economic Recovery Plan (ERP) President Dr. Joyce Banda’s Government has put in place.

Mia said his ministry is working hand in hand with the ministry of tourism in identifying roads in potential tourist areas.

He disclosed this in Parliament Wednesday when he was responding to questions from member of parliament for Nkhata-Bay South East Professor David Mphande who asked the minister to consider rehabilitating the road from Chintheche to Chikangawa.

“What government is also doing is to prioritise roads that are in touristic areas like in Mangochi. As a ministry, what we are doing is consult with our counter parts in the tourism ministry to go along the way to rehabilitate infrastructure in the touristic areas that have hotels and other facilities. We have done some and we are still working on the same,” said Mia.

The minister said government understands the importance of effective road networks and is committed to do as much to improve road infrastructure.

He further said roads that are not designated need to be incorporated into a master plan so that they are considered in the National Roads Authority.

Towards the end of the sitting, Leader of the House in parliament Henry Phoya said government is always serious in its ministerial responses provided to members of the house during question time.

This came after Nkhata-Bay Central representative Symon Kaunda asked ministers to be serious in responding to questions addressed to their respective ministries.

“I would like to ask all the ministers to be serious in the responses they give us in this house. Maybe it is high time we have the Assurance Committee that would be looking into that,” said Kaunda.

However, leader of the house said answers provided in the house are made in good faith.

“All answers presented by various ministers are well researched and made in good faith and we are serious when we make the answers; we are meant to realize them,” said Phoya.