Infrastructure and Transport News

[Neo]

Bridge project across river Indus deferred​

LAHORE (October 09 2008): Two mega development projects estimated to cost Rs 4.7 billion, including construction of a bridge over river Indus between Bunglow Iccha and Rojhan, district Rahim Yar Khan, and widening of Rawalpindi-Kahuta Road, have been deferred due to technical reasons.

Official sources told APP here on Wednesday these projects were put up for discussion at a meeting of Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) chaired by Planning and Development (P&D) department chief Sami Saeed.

The meeting after threadbare discussion pointed out certain shortcomings in the two projects, which were then deferred on technical grounds. The proposed bridge site is 160 km downstream of Ghazi Ghat bridge and 65 km upstream of Guddu Barrage in district Rajanpur.

The project was to function as a link on Indus Highway between two major towns across River Indus, serving people of districts Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur who faced great difficulty due to unavailability of a river crossing. The proposed bridge would have reduced the distance between RY Khan and Rajanpur by 85 km.

Although the project, despite its importance, has been deferred, the competent authority has asked the sponsors to put it up again after conducting a "proper feasibility and economic analysis" of the scheme. The second scheme of widening and improvement of 28 km long Rawalpindi-Kahuta Road with an estimated cost of over Rs 1.3 billion, was also deferred.

The road having strategic value takes off from the 766 km milestone on the Grand Trunk (GT) road (Sohan) and leads to Azad Kashmir via Kahuta Karot and Kahuta Punjar Azad Pattan. Accordingly, the portion of the road from 9.66 km to 18 km from GT Road to Sihala was proposed for dualisation, while the section of road from 18 km to 38.26 km was to be widened from the existing 20 feet to 24 feet.

An overhead bridge with length of 1425 feet was to be constructed over the Sihala level crossing. The concerned authorities have been directed to prepare a separate PC-1 for land acquisition from Capital Development Authority (CDA) and private owners for the dualisation of the road. Meanwhile, the CDA has also displayed interest in constructing the dual road.

 

[Spring Onion]

Construction of tallest building of South Asia: eight-member board of directors constituted


LAHORE (October 10 2008): Punjab government has constituted an eight-member board of directors (BoD) to review the constructing of the first tallest building (1947 feet) of South Asia, Mubarak Centre, that would be completed by the year 2012 at a cost of $1.2 billion. The 72-story-Mubarak Centre is being constructed under private-public partnership with 30:70 ratio of the Punjab government and the Abu Dhabi Group respectively.

Punjab government will be represented by Secretary Finance, Chairman Planning and Development and Chief Secretary while Abu Dhabi Group will be represented by Chairman Abu Dhabi Group Sheikh Nehyan Mubarak Al-Nehyan and CEO Abu Dhabi Group Bashir Ahmed Tahir in the new board of directors.

Mubarak Centre will be the tallest building in South Asia after its completion. The Centre will include residential and office towers, as well as conference halls and a shopping mall. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed in 2010 and the whole project will be completed at a cost of about $1.2 billion in 2012.

The complex will consist of four towers and a small eclipse shaped building. The main tower will be 72 stories, while the first 30 floors will be reserved for offices, and from 31 to above for residential apartments. The other three towers will be between 30 to 34 stories, with an eclipse shaped tower in between, which will house uniquely designed apartments along with a five story covered shopping mall, which will be biggest and most exclusive shopping and entertainment complex in the region.

The eclipse shaped tower will also house the largest reception and conference halls in the country, holding between 3,500-4,000 people. There will be exclusive, high-end residential suites in the main tower, again managed by Hyatt residency. Also, parking space will be provided for over 4,000 cars. The complex will be connected to the Gaddafi Stadium Sports Complex by a covered, over-head bridge or possibly an underpass.

The project is being carried out as a joint venture between the Abu Dhabi Group and the government of Punjab. The two investors have formed a holding company for Mubarak Centre called Taavun (Pvt) Ltd, which will be responsible for managing the project. Pakistani and foreign companies will construct this project.

The height of the building will make it visible from India, as well as allow residents of the upper floors views of the Golden Temple in Amritsar (approximately 50km away from the building) on clear days.

With the completion of Mubarak Tower, investment by Abu Dhabi Group will exceed $12 billion mark in Pakistan, which is the largest investment in the country by any foreign group. According to an official of the provincial government, this will be the tallest building in the region and the government is taking keen interest in promoting such mega projects.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

[Spring Onion]

IPDF to develop two PTDC projects: MoUs signed

ISLAMABAD (October 10 2008): The Infrastructure Project Development Facility (IPDF) has signed two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), under which the former will extend multiple assistance to the latter in developing two projects - PTDC Tourist Village and PTDC Corporate Complex - following public-private partnership framework in capital.

The MoUs were signed here on Thursday by IPDF Advisor Ghulam Murtaza Satti and Managing Director of PTDC Brigadier Amanullah (retd) in the presence of acting Chief Executive Officer of IPDF Adil Anwar and Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Ali Arif.

Under the agreement, the IPDF would provide technical support to the PTDC, including services of qualified advisory firms, to assist in structuring the development of the corporate complex. Speaking on the occasion, Satti said these MoUs would prove to be another step forward in facilitating the private sector's participation in promoting tourism.

He further said that President Asif Ali Zardari was giving due consideration to projects meant for accelerating infrastructure development and issued special directives to the relevant ministries in this regard. "We are focusing on good governance and regulation for providing enabling environment for creating investment opportunities to harness the private sector," he added.

The PTDC intends to develop 'Tourist Village' on 25 acres of land at Shahrah-e-Kashmir, adjacent to Islamabad Club. In addition to the Tourist Village, the project would have a modern three-star hotel, which would include restaurants, conference halls, theatre facilities, gymnasium, health club, indoor games facilities, corporate offices, tourist handling and promotional offices.

The PTDC's second project is development of a Corporate Complex on an area measuring 7,544.44 square yards in sector F-5/1, Islamabad. In addition to housing the PTDC's head office, it would also have corporate offices, auditorium, display areas, audio/visual and tourism facilitation centres.

Both the projects will be conceived in a manner that private sector will develop design, finance, operate and maintain the building. The ownership of these projects will always remain with the PTDC. However, their development and operational rights will be given to private parties for a specific period.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

[Neo]

ADB to provide $2 billion loan for LRTS​

KARACHI (October 10 2008): Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to lend over $2 billion to Pakistan which is considering to introduce Light Rail Transit System (LRTS) in one of its most congested cities, Karachi. According to official sources the regional loaning institution has expressed its willingness to provide Pakistan with a soft loan to be used for development of the mega project.

"ADB has committed to provide us a big loan of over $2 billion for the LRTS project," said an official in Sindh government. They said feasibility study for LRTS would soon be initiated jointly by the Sindh and city governments.

The present Pakistan People's Party-led government is eyeing the proposed light rail system as an effective and practicable way to encourage the masses to prefer public transport as a means of travelling rather than private cars or motorcycles, said the sources.

The new system, they said, would have a subway-like mechanism of stop-by-stop brakes, like most of the developed and some of the developing countries. They said the government was following a comprehensive strategy that includes projects, like Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), LRTS and Heavy Rail Transit System to improve the overall transportation system in the metropolis.

The government of Pakistan, they said, was already in talks with ADB for a soft loan worth $600 million to finance the Bogota-like Bus Rapid Transit System in Karachi. The ADB loan for BRTS would also be used for conducting feasibility study for the LRTS, added the sources. "This is the success of Sindh government that the international loaning institutions like ADB is committing such a big loan to us," said the official.

 

[DarkStar]

Thanks for the post Neo, but what the hell are these people up to? 600 million loan for a bunch of busses and bus stops?? How many busses will be bought for 600 million dollars? It's a complete joke, and to get a foreign loan?? Have these guys not learnt anything? Most likely, the money will be eaten up in contracts and kick backs, and after a couple of years the scheme will fail, while we see the "soft loan" being turned into a hard loan because of the small print.

This govt is a joke. They will spend a part of a billion dollars on a frikkin feasability study...

First the PPP got rid of the karachi rail network, and now they are looking to install it again.

I'm all for public transport, but we need to think big. LRT, HRT, A GOOD BUS SYSTEM, circular train aroudn the suburbs, and most importantly a subway system...

After that connect Karachi to Lahore with the motorway...how far is that proposed scheme? Or do we have to wwait for shahabaz sharif to come and finish that project?

 

[Neo]

With crooks in power anything is possible in Pakistan mate.

 

[Neo]

Road network in Punjab expanded to over 80,000 kms​

MULTAN (October 12 2008): The road network in Punjab has expanded to over 80,000-kms by the end of 2007 and estimated value of road assets in the province exceed Rs 200 billion. In recent years the overall demand for road transport has grown at 7 to 8 percent per year which surpasses average GDP growth rate over the last decade.

According to official sources here, expansion in road network mainly owes to large increase in traffic population densities as roads are predominant mode of transport in the country carrying more than 90 percent of the passenger and freight traffic with an average growth rate of 4.5 percent and 10.5 percent respectively.

The sources said the ever-increasing demand for additional road links in the province has intensified the need to augment existing road densities to vary from 0.34km/sq.km in the south zone to 0.58 km/sq km in the north zone.

Though the provincial road sector is mainly responsible for consolidating and maintaining the existing 9,000-km of inter-district roads, yet it continues to cater to the rural access road demand through identification by respective public representatives. Total outlay for road sector for the year 2008-09 is Rs 17.500 billion which is 22 percent more as compared to the allocation for the sector for the year 2007-08.

The sources said, out of total 332 schemes in the road sector, 156 schemes have been fully funded to achieve consolidation and up-gradation of existing network through undertaking widening and improvement of about 500 km length of existing roads from the present pavement widths of 10 or 12 feet to 20 or 24 feet.

In addition, construction of 150 km new roads is also provided for in MTDF 2008-09 to cater for either missing links or augmenting present road network with additional corridors for economic, social and poverty alleviation considerations.

 

[Neo]

Pakistan Railways to import 150 coaches from China ​

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways would import 150 new coaches from China worth Rs 5.977 billion shortly soon after the tendering process completes, an official at the Ministry of Railways said.

The official said out of the total 150 coaches China would assemble only 40 coaches and remaining would be assembled here. He said other countries like Germany and USA are not only reluctant to transfer their technology but also their prices are so high, which is unaffordable for the PR owing to lack of required resources.

“Pakistan Railways prefer China, because their prices are not only reasonable but they are also interested to transfer their technology to Pakistan,” he added. The fact that the government has also shown interest to import 75 locomotives and 1,300 high-speed wagons from China.

 

[Contrarian]

Why dont you set up a factory in Pakistan. The investment will not be in vain, the coaches and wagons can be used by Pak Railways.As it is, i believe the goods being transported through the railways is increasing in Pakistan.

 

[p2prada]

Pakistan Railways to import 150 coaches from China ​

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways would import 150 new coaches from China worth Rs 5.977 billion shortly soon after the tendering process completes, an official at the Ministry of Railways said.

The official said out of the total 150 coaches China would assemble only 40 coaches and remaining would be assembled here. He said other countries like Germany and USA are not only reluctant to transfer their technology but also their prices are so high, which is unaffordable for the PR owing to lack of required resources.

“Pakistan Railways prefer China, because their prices are not only reasonable but they are also interested to transfer their technology to Pakistan,” he added. The fact that the government has also shown interest to import 75 locomotives and 1,300 high-speed wagons from China.

But the problem is the chinese coaches will be made of iron and steel just like indian coaches. They will be heavier, carry lesser load and will need more juice to run.
German and American coaches, though expensive, will be made of aluminium and will give u an engine that can pull all of pakistan.
German and American trains will be more favourable in the long run.
Lets not forget better gas mileage.

Note that indian cargo trains are only 1 to 1.5 km long while american trains go 2.5-3 km. Chinese trains are similar to indian trains.

 

[Neo]

Pakistan's first in-car navigation system launched​

LAHORE (October 17 2008): Tracking World (Pvt) Limited and Data Solutions (Pvt) Limited on Thursday announced launching of Pakistan's first full-featured personal and in-car navigation system.

Based on Tracking World's experience of more than five years in Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL), and Data Solutions' 11-year expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the two companies have joined hands to introduce a product that many did not think possible in Pakistan for several years, said Khuram Qaiser, CEO of Tracking World, at a press briefing here on Thursday.

He said Pakistan Navigator employs Garmin's world-renowned and trend-setting array of Global Positioning System (GPS) devices and shows a user his or her exact location on the map. The joint venture chose Garmin as its hardware platform because it is the world's largest and most prestigious manufacturer of GPS devices, he added. "We made no compromise on quality," he said.

"We got into this business because we love making maps, using maps, or just looking at maps, and we wanted to do our bit to pave the way for development in this country," said Riaz Raheem, MD of Data Solutions. "We want all Pakistanis to freely share the joy and benefits of using maps," he added.

Humayun Qaiser also spoke on the occasion.

 

[Neo]

Port congestion to stay for a month: government looks at Gwadar for TCP wheat handling​

KARACHI (October 18 2008): The federal government on Friday announced short and long term measures, including the constitution of a watchdog, improvement of transportation network and an advanced planning to work out transportation cost for taking the wheat ships to Gwadar Port to clear the trade-damaging port congestion, which would persist for over a month.

A "Daily Monitoring Committee" (DMC), comprising representatives from the four provinces, ministries of food, agriculture and livestock, finance, commerce, three ports and other concerned departments would directly monitor handling and transportation of wheat to its final destination, Secretary Ports and Shipping Saleem Khan told Business Recorder.

DMC would be chaired by the TCP chairman, he added. He said to ensure a quick and smooth dispatch of the imported essential commodity the government would mobilise railways, National Logistic Cell (NLC) and private truckers as a short-term measure.

In the long run, the secretary said, the government was preparing an advanced plan to work out transportation cost for accommodating the expected wheat ships at Gwadar Port, where the traffic is one-sided. Khan was positive when asked if the government was intending to use the Gwadar Port, which is situated in the volatile Balochistan province, within next few days.

"Yes! We are working out the transportation cost and would use Gwadar Port as soon as we finish it," said the official. It may be recalled that the newly constructed port, which lacks in hinterland connectivity, had hardly managed to safely berth a Panamax bulk carrier, M/v POS Glory, carrying 72,700 tonnes of Russian wheat through lighterage in March 2008.

The secretary, however, said POS Glory was a huge vessel loaded with 72,700 tonnes of wheat, while the TCP ships that would have a cargo weighing between 40,000 to 43,000 tonnes could easily be docked at the 12.5-meter deep Gwadar Port. Earlier, conducting a post-federal committee meeting on wheat handling media briefing at Karachi Port Trust's (KPT) Headquarter, Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Naveed Qamar said bunching of ships at two ports had caused congestion.

"The backlog would take more than a month to be cleared," the federal minister told the newsmen, who had to wait for his briefing, which was scheduled at 11am, for at least four exhausting hours.

The minister, who was flanked by Secretary Ports and Shipping Saleem Khan and Director General Ports and Shipping Vice Admiral Asad Qureshi (retd), said some coinciding developments, like the soaring rice and cement exports, fertiliser import, non-opening of Letters of Credit, Eid holidays etc had caused the backlog.

Qamar said to improve a lethargic transportation network all the four provinces, NLC, TCP and railways would directly pick cargo from the ports. To avoid future congestion at ports the government would make arrangements to handle wheat at Gwadar Port. "Though it would cost Rs 80 crore extra, but we would go to Gwadar if the congestion persists," he added.

Taking a very serious cognisance of the issue, the federal cabinet had formed a ministerial committee, DMC, to make the two ports, Karachi Port and Port Qasim, congestion-free, Qamar said. The DMC, he said, would also check efficiency of the TCP, which was bringing unscheduled wheat ships at the outer anchorage of Karachi Port and Port Qasim. Later, the federal minister along with committee members also visited Port Qasim Authority to look into the level of congestion attributed by unscheduled wheat and fertiliser vessels.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Why dont you set up a factory in Pakistan. The investment will not be in vain, the coaches and wagons can be used by Pak Railways.As it is, i believe the goods being transported through the railways is increasing in Pakistan.

The article does say that only 40 out of 150 will be imported in China, and the rest would be assembled in Pakistan.

But the problem is the chinese coaches will be made of iron and steel just like indian coaches. They will be heavier, carry lesser load and will need more juice to run.
German and American coaches, though expensive, will be made of aluminium and will give u an engine that can pull all of pakistan.
German and American trains will be more favourable in the long run.
Lets not forget better gas mileage.

Note that indian cargo trains are only 1 to 1.5 km long while american trains go 2.5-3 km. Chinese trains are similar to indian trains.

I think Pakistan is just purchasing coaches, not engines, at this point.

 

[Contrarian]

Not assembled mate, i mean manufactured in Pakistan. Pakistan should ask China help in establishing a factory rather than shipping them in SKD/CKD kits. That gives more to the Pakistani economy in the long run.

 

[Neo]

ADB $50 million roads sector plan objectives generally achieved: report​

ISLAMABAD (October 20 2008): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) completion report on a 50 million dollars loan, undertaken to formulate a national policy reform programme for the road sector, was assessed as generally achieving its objectives of policies and most of the policy actions with one critical exception: developing a comprehensive road safety framework.

Completion reports are undertaken by the same department, which designs and implements a loan. Therefore, there is an obvious conflict of interests in terms of assessing a loan. Be that as it may, the road sector development programme completion report has urged that while preparing future programmes the ADB must set "programme targets so that they are clearly measurable and quantifiable....(and) the program administration and review by ADB should emphasise close monitoring of the executing agency, (MOF and supported by MOC and NHA in this case) and ensure continuity of staff in the administration team."

Thus, the ADB not only failed to provide measurable and quantifiable targets, reflecting poor design capacity within ADB, but also failed to ensure continuity of its own staff--at a cost to Pakistan.

The completion report notes that the policy directions to the program included (i) conducting road safety audits, (ii) establishing road design standards, (iii) conducting black spot mapping, and (iv) assigning institutional (road agency) responsibilities.

Actions required to be achieved included: (i) establishing accident reporting centre by 2002 in order to create a comprehensive accident data base, (ii) a training school for driving instructors in the same year, and (iii) an accident evaluation laboratory for forensic investigations was to be formed under this program.

The completion report has found that in the first phase of the programme NHA reduced staff level to 1,299. However, NHA is not in favour of further reducing staff levels since with more roads being added to the network it would require more staff, which would be addressed through reorganisation.

According to the report, the National Road Safety Secretariat, under the Ministry of Communications (MOC), was established in September 2006. However, the implementation of its tasks was a major issue and is not happening because of lack of resources. Also, the funds were not made readily available, thereby affecting the implementation of road safety policy actions, mainly. The report notes that the reforms to strengthen judicial and police sector were not initiated during this program.

It is relevant to note that lack of transparency and accountability within ADB has been highlighted in the international media, and Western donors, through representation in the Board of Directors at ADB, have expressed reservations in this regard. Within this context, it is relevant to note that the former World Bank President, Wolfowitz, had agreed to resign after weeks of controversy over his handling of a pay package for his girlfriend.

It is also relevant to note that International Monetary Fund Managing Director Strauss-Kahn is currently under investigation for abuse of power. To-date, ADB management has resisted pressure from its board of directors to usher an era of accountability and transparency.