Islamabad:
In an unprecedented development, the federal government on Thursday approved 27 projects worth RS1.5 trillion in just a few hours without much control. Most projects were related to Sindh and Balochistan.
The most important schemes include the SUKKUR-HYDERABAD Motorway, the reconstruction of a national highway in Sindh and upgrades to the dangerous N-25 road in Balochistan. Several SINDH -focused projects were also approved, despite the fact that these violated the National Fiscal Pact signed under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), President of Vice Prime Minister Ishaq DAR, approved 28 projects spanning energy, infrastructure, education, health, environment and public service across both federal and provincial level, according to a message from DAR’s office.
The Ministry of Planning’s officials later clarified that 27 projects were approved, while the Sehat Sahulate card scheme was referred to a committee.
DAR confirmed the government’s commitment to inclusive, sustainable growth, institutional reforms and long -term economic stability.
However, the ECNEC meeting lasted almost two hours and approved RS1.5 trillion worth of projects. Thirteen additional items, mostly linked to Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) -backed schemes in Sindh and Road Works in Balochistan, were also cleared.
The federal government approved the construction of the Succo-Hyderabad highway (M-6) at a price of RS363 billion, Confirmed Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal. A Chinese company has reportedly offered to build all five sections on the highway.
While the Islamic Development Bank is funding two sections, the government may allow Chinese companies to take on the entire construction.
This is the fourth time the project has been approved after previous trials under the public -private partnership (PPP) model failed.
Originally approved in 2020 to RS165 billion, project costs were revised to RS191 billion in 2021, then to the RS308 billion. The project is now part of the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP).
The Hyderabad-Sukkur motorway is the only lack of North-South motorway link and is a highest priority for PPP that tied its budget support to include this project in PSDP.
ECNEC also approved half a dozen SINDH government projects funded by RS86 billion from federal resources, another result of PPP-Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) budget negotiations.
Three sections of Karachi-Quetta-Chaman “Killer Road”, N-25 or Balochistan Expressway, were approved at a total cost of RS415 billion. The dualization of the 278 km stretch between Karachi and Quetta costs RS183.4 billion over three years, with RS33 billion awarded to FY26.
An additional 332 km stretch, Khuzdar to Kuchlak, costs RS99 billion, with RS34 billion awarded this year. Karoro Wadh and Khuzdar-Chaman sections (104 km) were approved for RS133 billion, with RS33 billion awarded for the current financial year.
The Green Pakistan program was scaled up for RS122.2 billion focusing on forest riding, biodiversity and forest markets that are not temporal forest. Punjab is ready to receive RS32 billion and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) RS28 billion from the program.
The 16MW Naltar Vandraft project was approved for RS10.6 billion. An RS17 billion flood project in Balochistan’s Kachhi Plains was also approved.
Punjab’s tourism for economic growth project was cleared for RS12.2 billion. The development program for higher education was approved for RS21.2 billion.
The Prime Minister’s Pakistan Fund for Education got RS14 billion, while Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz’s portable program got RS27 billion.
A Road Dualization Project from Sargodha to Mianwali via Khushab was approved for RS12 billion, with the federal government covering 25% of the cost of IMF conditions violation.
Lahores Sewer System from Larech’s Colony to Gullhan-E-Ravi was approved for RS49.3 billion. A separate RS12 billion project was cleared for a controlled access corridor between Niazi and Babu SABU exchanges to be fully funded by Punjab.
Balochistan’s Water Safety and Productivity Improvement Project was approved for RS10 billion.
A road from Gujranwala to the M-2 exchange via Hafizabad was approved for RS13.2 billion. The federal government will contribute RS3.7 billion or 28.2%in violation of national tax power.
The rehabilitation and upgrade of the Jhaljao-Bela path was approved for RS16.2 billion.
A revised RS41 billion project under Pakistan Rejser Revenue Program was also approved. Funded by a $ 400 million World Co -Loan in 2019, it aims to increase the collection of revenue and expand the tax base, but remain incomplete after six years.
The road from Sanghar to National Highway is reconstructed for RS37 billion that is equally funded by the federal and SINDH governments.
Rohri-Guddu Barrage Road upgrade, which covers M-5 exchange Sadiqabad to Khanpur Mahar, Mirpur Mathelo and Mureed Shah, was approved for RS18 billion.
Sindh Coastal Highway project was cleared at a revised cost of RS37.7 billion, with the federal government contributing RS27 billion and SINDH RS10.8 billion through its annual development program. The dualization of Mehran Highway from Nawabshah to Ranipur (135 km) was approved at a revised price of RS41 billion.
Finally, the rebuilding of the National Highway N-5 under the Restoration and Running framework was approved for RS165 billion ($ 588 million). The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) delivers $ 500 million, which is 85% of the total cost.
