NHA executing 50 road infrastructure projects worth Rs1605 billion: Economic Survey

ISLAMABAD: National Highway Authority (NHA) is constructing 50 road infrastructure projects costing Rs 1,605.6 billion with Public Sector Development Programme allocation for at Rs.178.5billion.

There are also 28 new schemes in PSDP with total estimated cost of Rs. 440.60 billion, said Economic Survey 2017-18 released here Thursday.

NHA was playing an important role in the development of economy and enhancing the national integration. Presently, NHA network comprises of 39 national highways, motorways, expressway, and strategic roads with total stretch of12,131 kms, the budgetary document said.

Motorways, NHA has already completed three segments of Pakistan Motorway network including M-1 (Peshawar-Islamabad), M-2 (Islamabad-Lahore) and M-3 (Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad) on a virgin corridor bringing remote areas on mainline and boosting economic activities.

NHA was now constructing M-4 (Faisalabad-Khanewal-Multan) and Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway (M-9) on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis. NHA through its dedicated efforts in the last one year took a lead in the road infrastructure development through the private sector participation.

NHA successfully attracted private sector investment and has awarded/supported five projects worth over Rs. 144 billion, which is more than the average annual Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Pakistan. Besides other benefits, the expected revenue earnings from these five projects is over Rs. 391 billion.

The Public Private Partnership (PPP) or Build, Operate & Transfer (BOT) is a mechanism through which private sector is responsible to arrange financing for the project.

The private party also bears the responsibility of design, construction, operation and maintenance of the project and in return the party is authorized to receive toll/other revenue for a certain period.