The National Highways Authority (NHA) Executive Board has approved to initiate an immediate settlement process of all the disputes between the Authority and Chinese companies for two projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). In the recent meeting held with Capt (retired) Muhammad Khurram Agha, chairman NHA, has gave his decision to take immediate action against all disputes. The NHA Executive Board approved to address all the contractual issues by way of a settlement agreement between the parties and submit the draft settlement agreement for approval of the Executive Board. The main disputed points are: Hassanabdal-Havelian Expressway (E-35) Contract No. ICB-E-35-III: Sarai Saleh to Simlaila (Km 39+611 to Km 58+711) and payment of an amount of Rs.350 million against DB Awarded Amount Rs.1.841 billion of all four claims; the Employer (NHA) shall have a financial saving of at least Rs.1.491 billion in term of claims duly reviewed and decided by the Engineer and Dispute Board.
The Board approved the award of 33x toll plaza to the highest bidders, where quoted bids are more than the previous year’s bids and subject to the difference in reserved price & quoted bid price is in single-digit after provision of data by NTRC. Moreover, the Board allowed NHA to handover O&M of toll operation of remaining 28 toll plaza to the GMs concerned after the expiry of the contracts, i.e., June 30, 2022, under an interim arrangement as per Clause 12(b) of NHA Code Vol-I till the finalization of re-tendering of these toll plazas and mobilization of a new operator through regular procurement.
