In a decisive move to turbocharge national infrastructure, the Board of Directors of the Public Private Partnership Authority (P3A) approved multiple high-impact projects, including two strategic six-lane motorways and major urban water initiatives for Islamabad, signalling a transformative shift towards private-sector-led development.
Chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, the pivotal 39th Board Meeting granted in-principle approval for the revised commercial structure of the 69km Sialkot-Kharian Motorway. Upgraded to six lanes on directives of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), this M-12 corridor project will unlock industrial connectivity in central Punjab, pending final Finance Division concurrence.
Simultaneously, the Board greenlit the 117.6km Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway (KRM) a Rs. 202.61 billion flagship project. To be developed as a six-lane greenfield corridor under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model with Rs. 40 billion Viability Gap Funding, the KRM will slash travel times across Punjab and boost regional trade logistics. Both motorways form part of SIFC’s strategic infrastructure priority matrix.
“The Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway isn’t just a road; it’s an economic artery that will integrate north and central Punjab, catalyzing trade and mobility,” stated Minister Iqbal. “Public-private partnerships are the cornerstone of our strategy to overcome fiscal constraints while ensuring transparency and value for public money.”
Beyond highways, the Board approved engaging an International Financial Institution as transaction advisor for Islamabad’s critical water and sewerage projects under CDA. This initiative, procured under 2023 Direct Contracting Regulations, aims to inject global expertise into building climate-resilient urban utilities.
“By leveraging private capital and innovation, we’re accelerating essential infrastructure that delivers public value,” emphasized Iqbal, underscoring PPPs as vital for sustainable development.
The high-level meeting saw participation from Planning Secretary, Finance Division representatives, NHA Chairman, CDA Chairman, P3A CEO, and private board members, collectively endorsing a roadmap to fast-track priority projects under Pakistan’s economic reform agenda.
