In the upcoming fiscal year, the government plans to prioritize two major road projects, the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway and the Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway. Contracts for both projects were terminated due to contractors’ failure to meet commitments, including financial close.
Asim Amin, Member of Planning at the National Highways Authority (NHA), made these remarks during an e-Kachehri session on Wednesday. He acknowledged financial constraints in meeting road maintenance needs nationwide.
Amin mentioned that land worth Rs15 billion was acquired for the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway and awarded to the lowest bidders. However, the concessionaire failed to achieve financial close within the stipulated time, leading to contract termination. The NHA is now exploring various options to expedite the project, including negotiations with Chinese companies, foreign banks, and the Frontier Works Organization (FWO).
Similarly, the Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway project faced contract termination due to dissolved joint ventures. Nonetheless, the government intends to prioritize it in the next fiscal year.
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Regarding road maintenance, Amin stated that the NHA is funding projects from its revenue, which is insufficient to meet all requirements simultaneously. Delays in projects like the Chitral-Shandoor road were attributed to weather conditions and financial constraints.
Amin assured that the M-9 project, entrusted to a contractor for 25 years, would undergo necessary widening and quality improvements per the agreement. Despite challenges, efforts are being made to manage maintenance work along the 1900 km GT road within available resources.
Regarding the regularization of daily employee wages, Amin mentioned that the case is pending in court, and NHA will abide by the court’s decision.
Lastly, Amin disclosed that the design for an interchange to the Model Prison site is complete, with a revision of PC-1 underway due to financial constraints. An alternate access plan is being finalized with government authorities, prioritized by the Prime Minister’s Office for swift approval.
