18 near-completion projects in FY26L NHA allocated Rs20.5bn against Rs56.9bn demand
According to NHA documents, in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), the authority requested 56.9 billion for projects which completed by almost 70 percent, so the early completion of these projects would be ensured.
Among these projects for land acquisition affected properties compensation and relocation of utilities for the construction of 959km Karachi-Lahore Motorway (KLM) Rs4.25 billion was proposed in the PSDP, whereas, only Rs500 million was approved.
For improvement, upgradation and widening of Jaglot-Skardu Road (S-1, 167 km) against the proposal of Rs5.3 billion only Rs1 billion was approved.
For the construction of motorway from Burhan/Hakia on M-1 to DI Khan Rs500 million allocated against the request of Rs2.57 billion. For the construction of two-lane Highway from Basmia to Khuzdar (length 106 km) Rs2.5 billion was allocated against the demand of Rs7.23 billion. For the construction of overhead bridge at Imamia Colony Railway Crossing Shahdra revised Rs200 million was allocated against the request of Rs863 million.
Among other near completion projects of strategic nature construction of Gwadar-Ratodero Road Project (M-8) Rs3 billion was allocated against the demand of Rs4.94 billion. For the rehabilitation and upgradation 54.80 km long Awaran Jhalijao road and dualisation and improvement of Old Bannu Road, allocation of Rs1.04 billion and Rs988 million was made as per of their 100 percent demand.
Construction of Kot Pindi Das Interchange on Motorway M-2 in District Sheikupura also gets the full allocation of Rs251 million as per the demand.
Dualisation of Indus Highway (N-55) Sarai Gamila to Kohat Section also gets the full allocation of Rs1.5 billion as per demand.
Construction of bridge on River Ravi at Syed Wala also gets the full allocation of Rs324 million against the demand of the same amount.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
NHA charging additional toll from vehicles
ISLAMABAD: The National Highways Authority (NHA) is charging additional toll up to 50 percent from the vehicles without M-TAG or low balance. According to NHA sources, this decision were taken to discourage long queues occurred on Toll plazas during the paying of Toll tax in cash. They said the government made this policy to implement 100 percent M-tag regime on all motorways all over the country. The vehicles without M-tag or low balance/cash vehicles forced to pay additional toll of 25 percent over and above the original toll rate with minimum capping of Rs5 w.e.f 1stFebruary 2025, as per notification of NHA. However, the vehicles without M-Tags or with low balances are subject to additional charges of 50 percent effective from 11.06.2025 of the total toll fee. The vehicles having the M-Tag facility with sufficient balance, the toll tax is being charged as per the actual rates/concession agreement by the Concessionaire, M/s SCORE (FWO).The toll tax is being collected by M/s SCORE (FWO) at the M-9 toll plazas near Karachi and near Jamshoro. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Repair of Interior Minister's Enclave: CDA replaces previously issued tender
ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) replaced a previously issued tender for repair and maintenance of House 36, Minister Enclave (residence of Syed Mohsin Naqvi, Minister for Interior), following significant public criticism, and issued a new corrigendum to expand the scope of repair for eight houses on Monday. A tender of Rs 47 million for repair at Syed Mohsin Naqvi's official residence (House 36, Minister Enclave), initially published on August 2, has been withdrawn. The CDA issued a fresh corrigendum on August 4, 2025, expanding the scope to cover repair and maintenance for eight houses in total. The corrigendum was released to national dailies but not uploaded on the website of CDA. The corrigendum does not provide details of the eight houses. On March 18, 2024, House 36 was allotted to Syed Mohsin Naqvi, previously occupied by former spokesperson for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Fahad Hussain. The renovation project is not part of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP); instead, it's being funded by the CDA. On July 30, 2025, CDA approved a budget outlay of Rs 92.215 billion for fiscal year 2025–26, reflecting a renewed focus on fiscal discipline, urban infrastructure, digital governance, and tourism development. Sources in CDA told this scribe that CDA can spend around Rs 700,000 on a single house in the minister's enclave per annum depending on the availability of funds. Since the funds required for the renovation were much higher than the assigned limit, the CDA's usual practice is to prepare a PC-I - a time consuming procedure subject to approval from the competent authorities. In 2024, amendments were made to the CDA Ordinance 1960 which gave considerable financial powers over CDA finances to the ministry including development related affairs of the capital city. These amendments pertain to powers of borrowing, execution of schemes and their finances, creation of funds, besides budget approval, audit, accounts and making rules. Before 2024, all such powers were vested with the federal government. The size of the current federal cabinet has swelled to 51, including 30 federal ministers, nine state ministers, four advisers, and eight SAPMs. In October 2018, when the powers were vested with the federal cabinet, a question was raised as to what was the source of funds for the renovation of official residence of the then state minister for interior, Shehryar Afridi. Shehryar Afridi was assigned his portfolio on Aug 31, 2018. At that time funding was sought from PWD, district administration and CDA. He was allotted house no.3 in the Ministers' Enclave by the PWD which was not in good condition. On Monday, a CDA spokesman reportedly said that this was a routine maintenance tender for eight houses. A typo in the advertisement mistakenly mentioned one house. The error was corrected immediately, and a revised notice was published the next day, he added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business Recorder
Communication ministry & NHA projects: FY25 audit uncovers over Rs5.29bn malfeasance
ISLAMABAD: The Audit Report 2024–25 has uncovered over Rs5.29 billion in financial irregularities and procedural violations in the Ministry of Communications and its key agency, the National Highways Authority (NHA), across various highway infrastructure projects. The highest irregularity, amounting to Rs2.51 billion, was found in the irregular award of work without approval of PC-I. The audit observed that the NHA initiated construction work on certain packages without the necessary planning approval, violating rules under the Planning Commission and the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA). This raised questions about both transparency and compliance with federal development guidelines. Another glaring discrepancy involved the loss of Rs551.87 million in Package-1 of the Hakla–DI Khan Motorway, where the work was prematurely awarded before acquiring the required land. The project faced long delays due to land acquisition issues, pushing up costs and causing disruption to the overall CPEC Western Route timeline. NHA projects: Ministry releases Rs56bn, parliamentary panel told In a related observation, Rs511.67 million was paid to contractors due to faulty measurements and misapplication of rates in the same package. The auditors noted that quantities claimed and paid were not properly validated by field staff or supported with engineering estimates. The report also highlights that the NHA suffered a loss of Rs360.91 million due to irregular bidding practices and flawed escalation calculations during another section of the Hakla–DI Khan Motorway project. The tendering process failed to ensure a level playing field and did not reflect prevailing market conditions. An unjustified price adjustment of Rs300.8 million was also recorded, where contractors were awarded price escalations even beyond the allowed notification period. This adjustment was granted without verifying if actual cost changes warranted such increases. Separately, auditors flagged Rs272.17 million in non-adjustment of recoverable advances, where contractors had been paid mobilisation funds that were never deducted from final bills. This reflects serious lapses in internal controls and contract enforcement. An additional Rs224.55 million was lost due to delay-based price adjustments that were granted to defaulting contractors. Despite poor progress, the NHA allowed escalations instead of enforcing penalties under contract clauses. Another audit para noted Rs217.2 million paid for non-scheduled items, which were outside the scope of the original PC-I and were never approved by the competent authority. This was done without competitive bidding and against standard procurement practices. Finally, the auditors revealed Rs344.5 million in undue benefit given to a contractor by ignoring contract clauses related to progress and milestone penalties. The NHA failed to enforce provisions that could have prevented overpayments and encouraged timely completion. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
