Vision of Prime Minister of Pakistan - Transparency and development through construction.

Byline: Gohar Zaman Babar

After coming into power, the present government focused on improving the performance of national institutions. To further improve the efficiency and working regime of National Highway Authority with the objective to inculcate transparency and fairness in its affairs was a great challenge to the government. However, keeping in view the vision of Prime Minister Mr. Imran Khan, National Highway Authority, an attached organization of Ministry of Communications, undertook concrete steps and chalked out comprehensive plan to complete road infrastructure projects at a rapid pace throughout the country. Revolutionary measures taken by NHA to translate vision of PM into reality will ever be remembered as a part of national history. The first priority was to construct motorways and national highways on Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis with the view to reduce the financial burden on national ex-chequer and to make roads construction and their maintenance procedures completely transparent.

At present times, it is noteworthy that in the past the value of dollar was low while now its value has increased. Cement, steel and building materials were cheap in the past. While presently with increased value of dollar, the rates of construction materials have also been increased. In such state of affairs, the extraordinary measures undertaken by present government have resulted in execution of national highways and motorways projects at much lower cost.

In the past, despite low dollar rate, 1 Km long, 2 lane Road was constructed at a cost of Rs. 118.171 million whereas presently 1 Km long, 2 lane Road is being constructed at cost of Rs. 110.991 million despite increase in dollar rate. In the past 4-lane national highway was completed at cost of Rs. 411.078 million per kilometer, while the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is constructing 4-lane national highway at cost of Rs. 173.515 million per Km. Again, previously, one km long road was used to be rehabilitated and maintained at cost of Rs. 80.111 million, while presently this cost has been reduced to Rs. 53.400 million. In the past, 4 lane motorway on Build Operate Transfer (BOT) basis was built at Rs. 606.044 million per km. while presently, 4 lane motorway on Build Operate Transfer (BOT) is costing Rs. 395.652 million per km. Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Imran Khan has commended efforts made by construction experts and engineers of NHA for building roads at low...