Pakistan’s Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs sounded alarms over delays and opacity plaguing critical road infrastructure projects worth nearly $11.5 billion, despite 33 national highways and motorway ventures being completed with $9,996.20 million in foreign funding. Chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro, the panel grilled officials for repeatedly failing to provide project details, stressing urgent reforms to bolster investor confidence amid economic strain.
Officials revealed that completed projects were financed largely by the Asian Development Bank (15), China (7), and the World Bank (5), with Japan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the U.S. contributing smaller shares. However, 10 ongoing projects valued at $1.547 billion and backed by ADB, South Korea, and others face hurdles, including security-related slowdowns on Shikarpur-Kandhkot and Kashmore-Rojhan routes.
Senator Abro lambasted the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) and National Highways Authority (NHA) for “non-provision of required details,” prompting the committee to mandate full disclosures within 48 hours. “At a time when Pakistan seeks foreign investment, such inefficiency is unacceptable,” he asserted.
A major flashpoint emerged over the Khyber Pass Economic Corridor, a World Bank-funded project stalled since 2019. EAD disclosed that financial bids now double the loan’s allocated amount, with the WB refusing extensions. “The project is at stake NHA must resolve this immediately,” warned officials.
While the NHA cited deteriorating law and order in Sindh and Balochistan as key obstacles, senators emphasized systemic accountability gaps. The committee urged streamlined tendering processes and tighter oversight to prevent cost overruns and delays.
With Pakistan’s infrastructure ambitions hinging on foreign partnerships, the hearing underscored a pressing need for transparency and agility to transform pledges into progress or risk eroding global trust.
