Pakistan's Infrastructure & Development- Updates & Discussions.

[Tuahaa]

Yes it does.

I've only lived in Pakistan for 6 years, and everytime I go back with my family, I just visit extended families...

But now we've decided that we should look around and go other places too- next winter break!

I can't wait to see it!

 

[Creder]

Third phase of water project on the anvil

RAWALPINDI, Oct 19: The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) is all set to launch the third phase of Khanpur Dam water supply project next week to improve the water distribution network at a cost of Rs690 million.

Talking to Dawn here on Tuesday, Cantonment Executive Officer Rana Manzoor Ahmed Khan said the federal government recently released Rs22 million out of the Rs100 million set aside for the project in the fiscal year 2010-11. An amount of Rs24 million had already been provided last year, he added.

He expressed the hope that after completing the project, water supply to the cantonment areas would increase to 19.6 million gallons daily (MGD). At present, RCB is receiving nine MGD from Khanpur Dam and five MGD from tubewells against its daily requirement of 19 MGD.

The official said under the project, as many as 12 overhead water tanks would be constructed in different areas of Rawalpindi and Chaklala Cantonment boards besides laying new water supply lines.

He said the RCB would also begin installation of water meters at commercial and domestic units to improve the water supply system. The civic body would install 7,000 meters at commercial and residential units in its jurisdiction.

He said the meters would improve water billing system and eliminate theft. It will also help the agency check excess billing and differentiate the cost for commercial and domestic use.

He said there was a dire need to create awareness among the people regarding judicious use of water, adding the water metering system would help the consumers realise the need to avoid excessive use and wastage of water.—A Reporter

 

[Omar1984]

Pak Highway Rehabilitation Project

World Bank approves $130 million credit
​

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank (WB) has approved a credit worth $130 million in additional financing for the Pakistan Highway Rehabilitation Project to continue revitalising and modernising Pakistan’s highway system.

The project will further create a productive and efficient highway network, lowering transportation bottlenecks and costs, particularly crucial in light of tremendous damage caused by the recent floods.

The project consists of three components: rehabilitating 514 km of highways, resurfacing 342 km of highways, and reconstructing 128 km of damaged roads that provide vital access to remote and disaster-prone communities. Additionally, the project also reinforces resource allocation, road maintenance, and strengthens the National Highway Authority’s (NHA) capacity. This will complement Pakistan’s development goals especially with rising per capita income and improving social indicators.

“Improvements in basic infrastructure including highways are critical to improving human development outcomes”, said Rachid Benmessaoud, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan.

“With growth, there has been an increase in demand for better infrastructure. However, Pakistan’s infrastructure platform needs significant investment in order to support Pakistan’s growth and service delivery goals.”

The Pakistan Highway Rehabilitation Project was initially approved in 2003 and has demonstrated transformative results with 884 km of roads having been improved. Stretches in poor condition have been reduced by 20%, travel time between Peshawar and Karachi has been reduced by 9%, and road fatalities also have reduced by a notable 44%.

“This continues to be a very important project,” said Zafar I. Raja, Project Team Leader. “We are committed to continually improving the three impact indicators – reduction in average vehicle operating costs; reduction in travel time; and improvement in road safety.”

The WB has a long history of partnership and collaboration with Pakistan and has continued its support for a variety of infrastructure projects including improvements of ports and barrages besides improving facilitation of trade and transport.

The additional financing route was chosen to ensure fast processing of funds for the flood-affected communities. Of the $130.0 million, $20.0 million is part of the billion-dollar floods package announced by the WB.

The credits from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s concessionary arm, have 40 years to maturity with a 10-year grace period; they carry a service charge of 0.75 percent.

 

[Omar1984]

E-35 to be completed with Rs 25 billion: Arbab Alamgir ​

ISLAMABAD, Nov 4 (APP): Hasan Abdal-Mansehra Express Way (E-35) would be completed with an estimated cost of Rs 25 billion and Asian Development Bank would provide funds for the project.This was informed by Minister for Communications Dr Arbab Alamgir here in the National Assembly on Thursday while responding to a Calling Attention Notice regarding non-completion of construction work on Hasan Abdal-Mansehra Express Way which was started two years ago.

The minister while giving details of the project stated, “E-35 Express Way is 110 kilometre long and divided into two phases, while the length of first phase is 60 Km which will be from Burhan Interchange to Mansehra”.

He said that the process of land acquisition has been started in the first phase after which the construction work would start.

“We need 8100 Kanal land for the construction of E-35 which would cost Rs2 billion and for the purpose first tranche of Rs 700 million has been released to the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa in June last”, he added.
He informed the House that Karakoram Highway (KKH) which starts from Hasan Abdal and culminates at Khunjrab is a very important highway as most of the trade with China is done through this road.

Arbab added that the KKH was constructed to meet the needs of six to seven thousands vehicles, whereas currently over 20,000 vehicles travel on this road daily.

He assured the House that the government is fully aware of the importance of E-35 as there is huge traffic on KKH which is increasing with every passing day.

Communication minister maintained that after the completion of land acquisition of phase one, the agreement with the Asian Development Bank would be materialized.

 

[Omar1984]

NHA collects Rs 4805m revenue from motorways in three years
​

Islamabad—State Minister for Communications Imtiaz Safder Warriach on Thursday told the National Assembly that National Highway Authority (NHA) had collected Rs.4805 toll revenue from motorways during the last three years.

In response to question, he said that Rs.1066.879 million was collected from toll revenue in financial year 2006-07, Rs. 1731.404 million in 2007-08 and Rs.2007.451 in 2008-09.

He said Frontier Works Organization (FWO) had been collecting toll revenue since 1997 adding that now all toll plazas would be auctioned through open tender on November 10. He said under the new contract automated system would be installed at all toll plazas.

The minister said that the flash flood damaged 107 kilometers portion of Indus Highway and work would be started on it rehabilitation after releasing funds by government.

To another question, he said that NHA has planned construction/up-gradation of the 4-lane Karachi-Hyderabad Super Highway to a 6-lane Motorway (M-9) through Public Private Partnership. Construction would be completed in 36 months after commencement of works, he added.

State Minister for Postal Services Abdur Razzaq informed the house that the present value of the assets of Pakistan Post Office damaged due to flood is Rs.228.5 million. He said soon after the fund availability, rehabilitation work would be started.

He said Pakistan Post distributed over 20 million forms of Benazir Income Support Programme across the country.

 

[sannu123]

Good News!

Lahore ring road is still not yet completed and they are going for Rawalpindi Ring Road? well i would have recommended to accelerate the work of Lahore ring road so it would have been completed soon. Its been many years now since i have been hearing about Lahore R.R. project.

Rawalpindi Ring road project would be very beneficial for the peoples of Rawalpindi, Islamabad and its sorrounding areas including Jhelum upto Gujrat if this ring road project is ever completed.

It will help reduce the traffic from GT road and inner part of Rawalpindi

Hello friends,,,this is sannu here,,,I'm new ans just join it,,,,,,I like this site very much then i really agree with your post....I think nice comment,,,,,,

 

[Karachiite]

Kindly introduce yourself in the Member's introduction forum.

 

[faisaljaffery]

work progress no road development projects is very slow in Pakistan. Ministry of communications should advice the NHA and relevent authrities to increase the pace of work for early completion of these vital highways

 

[meocon015]

again thanks... your post has good info...

 

[CLIPPER4LIFE]

From Jang news
Monday, March 28, 2011

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Railways (PR) has completed a feasibility report of the Chaman-Qandahar railway track and it has now requested the World Bank to assist in the feasibility of the Peshawar-Jalalabad route.

Director Planning Ministry of Railways Aftab Akbar told APP that the PRís top priority is rehabilitation, upgradation of infrastructure and lying of new tracks with an aim to be a hub of economic activities for regional countries.

He said that under the government’s vision, Pakistan Railways has already completed dualisation of track from Karachi to Lodhran and work is under progress from Lodhran to Lahore.

He said the government, realising the importance of the country’s geo-strategic importance to regional countries that include Afghanistan, China and Central Asian States, has directed PR to complete dualisation of track from Karachi to Lahore and from Lahore to Peshawar.

Similarly, he said that China is working on feasibility of Hawalian to Khunjrab, adding that the feasibility report of the 900-km track from Gawadar to Mastung has already been completed.

He said the government has also introduced “Open Access Policy” under which private companies and chambers can run their own freight service by using infrastructure of the Pakistan Railways.

Akbar said that under public-private partnership, the PR has embarked on the construction of dry ports in industrial cities to facilitate transport of raw material and finished goods.

Under this programme, dry ports will be constructed at Sheikhapura and Azakhel. About the upgradation of rolling stock, he said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been singed with China for import of 202 coaches and 75 engines.

He said out 500 engines, 300 are defective and there is dire need to upgrade the rolling stock. Besides, Pakistan Railways has also launched open tender for purchase of 150 engines from western countries.

Replying to a question, he said Pakistan Railways is annually spending around Rs3 billion on pensioners and Rs4 billion on its police employees which are major contributing factors to the overall deficit of the organisation.

 

[CLIPPER4LIFE]

Karachi
Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas road to be completed by April 2012: Qaim

our correspondent
Thursday, March 31, 2011


Karachi

The Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, has said that roads play a vital role in the development and prosperity of any country, while the government is paying full attention towards the construction, repairing and renovation of essential roads of the province.

He stated this while chairing the fifth meeting of the Public-Private Partnership Policy Board at the Chief Minister’s House on Tuesday.

Shah, who is also the chairman of the Board, said that by initiating various projects under the Public-Private Partnership, the government of Sindh had taken a lead over other provinces.

He said that 33 percent work on the Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas dual carriageway had been completed, and the rest would be completed by April 2012.

The chief minister said that as far as the standard of work was concerned, some good quality imported material was being used.

The chief minister termed the project an important one.

Sindh Finance Secretary, Naveed Kamran Baloch, said that a comprehensive Public-Private Partnership policy had been prepared under the guidance of the Asian Development Bank which worked as an impetus to the initiatives in Sindh province.

The Board members discussed the policy contents and approved the same.

The public-private partnership board also approved the Project Development Facility Fund guidelines, which shall be followed to develop the public-private partnership projects in future.

The board also approved funding for the ongoing and subsequent projects to be undertaken under the public-private partnership mode.

The board was also shown a documentary on the progress on Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas dual carriageway project.

The participants of the meeting appreciated the pace and quality of work.

The chief minister was assured by an independent engineer of the project that the road shall be completed within the stipulated time-frame and as per good industry practices.

The public-private partnership policy board also approved financing documents for the Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas dual carriageway project.

 

[CLIPPER4LIFE]

‘NHA to get Rs1bn for construction of roads’

Sunday, April 10, 2011


ISLAMABAD: The Finance Division informed the Senate Standing Committee on Communications on Saturday that Rs1 billion would be released to the National Highway Authority (NHA) for the construction of roads in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The committee, which met with Mir Wali Muhammad Badini here in the chair, was informed that Rs250 million were released for the construction of the Hasanabdal-Havelian-Mansehra Expressway (E-35) while Rs250 would be released in the first week of May 2011.

The 109-km-long project would be completed with an estimated cost of Rs50 billion and the Asian Development Bank would provide 80 per cent funds for the project.

The project, which would be a four-lane controlled facility, would start from Burhan Interchange of Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway (M-1) and end at Mansehra bypassing eastern side of Abbottabad.

The committee was also informed that Rs250 million had been released for various roads projects of Balochistan while Rs250 million would be released on Monday.

The committee directed the NHA to complete Quetta-Chaman Road (N-25) before June 2011. The committee also directed the NHA to blacklist Hussnain Construction Company.

The committee also asked the Ministry of Communications to expedite process to regularise eligible workers in the NHA.

The Committee directed the NHA to accelerate process of new appointments in the organisation.

NHA Chairman Muhammad Junaid informed the committee that the ministerial committee headed by Syed Khurshid Shah was working on the regularisation of employees.

The committee also directed the NHA chairman to take action against the employees who were involved in corruption and not performing their duties satisfactorily. The committee also directed the NHA to award contracts to construction companies on merit.

Briefing the committee IG Motorway Police Dr Waseem Kauser informed the committee that the Motorway Police had extended help to about 103,994 persons per month.

About 70 per cent accidents decreased after the Motorway Police took over while 80 per cent crime decreased on highways.

The IG informed that the Motorway Police personnel were being imparted international standard training. The meeting was also attended by Senator Zahir Khan, Senator Mohammad Ismail Buledi and Senator Abdul Rahim Khan Mandokhel.

 

[Omar1984]

National Highway Authority discusses construction schemes ​

ISLAMABAD: The executive board of National Highway Authority (NHA) met Monday under the chairmanship of Chairman Muhammad Junaid and discussed in detail issues relating to various construction schemes undertaken by the authority.

The meeting reviewed various options for realignment of Karakoram Highway at barrier Lake Attaabad, Hunza, Gilgit Baltistan. During the briefing it was apprised that as a first option, a new road 10 meter above the water level would be built. While in the second option, water level may be reduced in Lake to such an extent that the old road be discovered and made usable.

The meeting was further told that the 2nd option is feasible and low in terms of cost and time. Moreover environment of the area is conducive for construction activity. The 2nd option includes construction of 1.36 Km long bridges and tunnels—and will cost $281.973 million. Design of the project is flexible to undertake amendments as per requirement. The meeting also discussed various aspects of quality assurance of the project whereas government of China will make 85% funding.

The meeting also accorded approval of the rationalised cost of Rs 46.8 million of Hassanabdal-Havelain-Mansehra Expressway. The meeting approved revision in scope of work due to flood damages on DI Khan-Sarai Gambila section of Indus Highway. Ninety percent (90%) work on this important segment has been completed. The meeting formed a committee to settle the technical aspects of proposed highway research and training centre to be located 5 Km short to Burhan on M-1. NHA is developing this research centre in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency. The project will cost Rs 898.81 million. The meeting also discussed financial and administrative affairs of NHA.

Dr Waseem Kausar IG NH & MP, Abdul Basit Khan Senior Joint Secretary Ministry of Communications, Mathar Niaz Rana Joint Secretary Ministry of Communications, Muhammad Kazim Idris Chief NTRC, Qazi Iftikhar Ahmed Vice President NESPAK, Munir Ahmed Anjum Chief (T&C) of Planning & Development Division, the Members of NHA and Secretary NHA participated in the meeting. staff report

 

[Omar1984]

NHA road project completed ​

ISLAMABAD: A National Highway Authority (NHA) road project—funded by the government of Japan, has successfully completed. The project, Kararo-Wadh section of National Highway N-25 in Balochistan, was reportedly granted around $49 by the government of Japan. The project N-25 is an important link road with a total length of 813 km that connects Karachi to Chaman via Quetta. As this route links Afghanistan and neighboring inland countries to the port of Karachi by the shortest route, the importance of N-25 has grown significantly. Transport is an important sector in any economy. In Pakistan, road transport accounts for 89 percent of passenger traffic and 96 percent of the freight traffic. It is therefore of great significance that the road network should not only be maintained but also be widened and rehabilitated. Before the initiation of the project, the 96 km road between Kararo and Wadh was very narrow, had poor visibility, steep inclines and sharp curves that drastically slowed down the progress of large vehicles. staff report

 

[Omar1984]

Sindh likely to get Rs27 billion ADB loan ​

Karachi: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is likely to give a loan of around Rs27 billion to the Sindh government for repairing the embankments on the River Indus and for expanding the road infrastructure.

This was stated by the chief minister’s adviser on planning and development, Dr Kaiser Bengali, during a press conference at his office on Thursday.

There was an urgency to repair the irrigation system, especially the embankments, before June to avoid the floods so the provincial government was seeking an “emergency fund” from the ADB, the adviser said.

Bengali said that talks between the representatives of the provincial government and those of the ADB were going on in Islamabad which might culminate in the signing of an MoU for 405 million dollars (Rs27 billion).

Meanwhile, realizing the need for repairing the embankments urgently, the provincial and the federal governments had released over three billion rupees for that purpose, said the adviser.

He clarified that the money spent on the repair of the river’s dykes would be repaid by the federal government as the repair of the dykes was the responsibility of the Centre.

Speaking of the government’s plan for improving the road network, Bengali said seven new highways connecting the scattered districts would be developed.

He said the 60km-long, Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas dual carriageway was expected to be completed by April 2012.

All these highways would be built under the public-private-partnership mode, the adviser said.

Bengali said that these highways would reduce the travel time between Sukkur and Karachi from seven hours to over four, between Karachi and Thatta from two hours to 45 minutes and between Dadu and Karachi to two hours.

The adviser said that some international firms had shown their interest in these projects, especially the Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas dual carriageway which alone had elicited interests from around 15 firms.

He said these highways would cost the exchequer more, but they would also last longer than the roads built by the Works and Services Department which start decaying within three years.

The adviser said these highways would have a higher rate of toll tax. He justified this by saying that one had to pay more for a product of fine quality.