Senate panel okays Quetta Expo Centre amid concerns over site

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Commerce on Monday approved the current site of the Rs5 billion Quetta Expo Centre after a consensus was reached between Commerce Minister Jam Kamal, committee members, and Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti.

The project will be established at an industrial estate near Saryab Road, which is considered as a main area of the activities of a banned terrorist organisation.

The meeting, chaired by Senator Anusha Rahman, deliberated extensively on the project’s location, which had remained contentious for months.

Commerce Minister Jam Kamal, along with some committee members — including Senator Bilal Ahmed Khan — and the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI), had opposed the current site. They argued that the Expo Centre should be in a safer and more accessible area to ensure that investors and businesses can visit it without fear.

However, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti strongly supported the existing site and rejected concerns about security.

Expressing displeasure over remarks by QCCI and Senator Bilal Khan regarding the law-and-order situation, Bugti said incidents had also occurred in Pashtun-dominated areas, questioning the selective portrayal of insecurity.“I will not allow anybody to defame Balochistan,’’ he said, adding, “Should the concerned area be handed over to the banned outfit?”

To address the concerns, the chief minister offered to construct an additional Expo Centre using provincial funds. He invited the commerce minister, Senator Bilal Ahmed Khan, and QCCI representatives to a meeting to finalise the location of a provincial expo centre.

He emphasised that the federal government should proceed with the current project without delay, noting that no federally sponsored project had been completed in the province over the past 25 years. “I am ready to fund another Expo Centre from the provincial PSDP. This means the business community will have access to two facilities,” he said.

Despite reservations, the committee approved the project at its current site. Senator Bilal Khan, who attended the meeting via Zoom, had proposed limiting approval to the PSDP allocation for FY2026-27, but the committee went further and endorsed the location. The Quetta Expo Centre project was originally approved in March 2018 under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) at an estimated cost of Rs2.5 billion. The objective was to develop a state-of-the-art exhibition facility to promote trade, attract investment, and support economic integration in Balochistan.

The Government of Balochistan provided 50 acres of land at Eastern Bypass Road in November 2018, while the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) approved the feasibility study in September 2019. Implementation began in 2021 after initial funding was released.

However, the original site was later found unsuitable due to a natural drainage channel, leading to relocation to adjacent land in November 2021.

In September 2023, CDWP deferred the project citing security concerns. A subsequent review by a committee under the Secretary Commerce concluded that the current site should be retained due to improved connectivity, accessibility, and satisfactory security conditions.

A revised PC-I costing Rs4.83 billion was submitted in June 2023 to reflect cost escalation. The government of Balochistan formally approved the site in May 2024, followed by CDWP’s approval of the revised PC-I in January 2025. Administrative approval was granted in January 2026.

So far, Rs17.5 million has been released out of Rs50 million allocated, while a demand of Rs3 billion has been submitted for the next fiscal year. Total financial commitments stand at Rs421.55 million.

Physical progress remains limited, with only partial construction of the boundary wall. The boundary wall contract has been terminated due to non-payment, though the pre-engineered building (PEB) contract is expected to resume.

Despite approvals, the project has seen little progress, primarily due to disagreements over the site.

The QCCI has consistently raised concerns regarding security, as well as the site’s distance from the airport and lack of nearby hotel infrastructure. The Commerce Ministry had also suggested relocating the project closer to the airport, warning that the current location could undermine its viability.

Following these concerns, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) reassessed the site and concluded that it was unsuitable due to security risks and poor accessibility for both domestic and international participants.

TDAP further warned that, in the absence of a viable business model, the Expo Centre could become a financial liability rather than a self-sustaining facility. It recommended exploring alternative locations or even considering a different project if a suitable site could not be identified.

These recommendations were endorsed by both the TDAP Board and the commerce minister.

However, despite these reservations, the committee ultimately approved the project at the existing site after reaching a political consensus.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026