Pak seeks pvt sector investments for NHA projects

Islamabad: The government has decided to seek private sector investment for roads and other projects, to be executed by National Highway Authority (NHA)/Infrastructure Project Development Facility (IPDF), official sources said.

The decision was taken by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec), partly presided over by Advisor on Finance to Prime Minister Shaukat Tarin, while considering construction of high level bridge over Chenab river at Head Muhammad Wala, Multan, construction of a new bridge over Sutlej river at Emanwala, and upgradation of 45 km Jalalpur Pirwala-Uch section of the Multan-Trinda Muhammad Pannah road.

The Ecnec was informed that the scheme of construction of high level bridge over Chenab River at Head Muhammad Wala, Multan would provide construction of a 1,010 metres long bridge across river Chenab at Muhammadwala in Multan, and would include construction of 10 km long approach roads on both sides of the bridge. The scheme is integral part of the program for development of southern Punjab. The cost of the project is Rs 2,376.75 million.

After detailed discussion, the Ecnec decided that the road should be federalised for implementation by NHA. Simultaneously, NHA/IPDF should make efforts to explore private sector financing for the road. In case the road is not federalised, one of the following options may be adopted: (a) the provincial government should approve and forward project's PC-I based on 50:50 cost sharing by the federal and provincial governments, to be executed at by provincial government; (b) alternatively, the provincial government may get the project executed by NHA, as deposit work, with 50:50 cost sharing between Punjab government and NHA. The project after completion will be returned to provincial government for maintenance and upkeep.

With regard to construction of new bridge over Sutlej River at Emanwala, the Ecnec was informed that the project envisages construction of a 2-lane (8.5 metre) 600 metre long bridge across the river which will have one km long approach road on either side. The project is part of Multan development package and has been proposed to be constructed by NHA. Total cost of the project is Rs 1,147.77 million.

The Ecnec while considering a project regarding widening and improvement of National Highway (N-5) from Bahawalpur Chowk (929 metre) to Chowk Kumharn (937 metre), observed that being a small urban road its maintenance/widening should have been the responsibility of provincial and district governments and not of the federal government.

In case of scarcity of funds being faced by these governments, federal government could provide funds for such projects, but implementation should be the responsibility of the province or district administration, sources said.

They said that Ecnec also directed the Planning Commission for formulation of clear and comprehensive policy guidelines pertaining to the provision of funds by the federal government for such projects to the provincial and district governments. It was further suggested that this issue can be assigned to the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Co-ordination in consultation with all relevant ministries/divisions to formulate their recommendations and re-submission to Ecnec.