In a major development for Pakistan’s infrastructure sector, a Chinese-led joint venture has successfully secured all four packages of Tranche-III of the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Corridor Project. The contracts, awarded through a transparent bidding process, will save the national exchequer a total of Rs13.24 billion.
The winning consortium is spearheaded by M/s Ningxia Communications Construction (NXCC) in partnership with local firms M/s Rustam Associates and M/s Dynamic Constructors. The project, backed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), focuses on expanding the N-55 highway from Rajanpur to Dera Ghazi Khan and Dera Ismail Khan. The upgrade will transform the existing two-lane road into a modern four-lane carriageway, enhancing connectivity and boosting regional trade.
The National Highways Authority (NHA) ensured a fair and competitive selection process in alignment with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision of transparency and efficiency in infrastructure development. After addressing all concerns, the financial bids were opened, revealing a clear cost advantage for the NXCC-led joint venture. The bid differences compared to the second-lowest competitors were Rs1.4 billion for Lot-1, Rs2.4 billion for Lot-2, Rs2.3 billion for Lot-3, and Rs7.1 billion for Lot-4.
With Tranche-III now awarded, the NHA is simultaneously progressing on Tranche-I and Tranche-II. Under Tranche-I, the 66.37 km stretch between Petaro and Sehawan is 98% complete, led by M/s Xinjiang Beixin Road and Bridge Group. Another 43.4 km section between Ratodero and Shikarpur, undertaken by M/s TIEC and Umer Jan, is 43% complete. Meanwhile, Tranche-II covers multiple road segments between Shikarpur and Rajanpur, with firms like M/s ZKB and M/s CCECC achieving progress rates between 14% and 23%.
The successful completion of the CAREC Corridor Project is expected to be a game-changer for Pakistan’s transport infrastructure, streamlining trade routes and fostering economic growth.
