TAHIR AMIN

ISLAMABAD: The government has earmarked Rs 337.28 billion for Communication division including over Rs 70 billion for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) related road projects in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for 2017-18.

National Highway Authority (NHA) had proposed Rs 700 billion under the PSDP for 2017-18, targeting mega infrastructure projects to be completed by 2018, the year of general election. The Authority has targeted to complete 12 motorways/highways of the ongoing 13 mega projects by 2018.

NHA had proposed Rs 700 billion for 76 projects including Rs 500 billion for CPEC related projects. The proposed amount includes Rs 364.8 billion local component and Rs 337.6 billion foreign aid. However, government has earmarked Rs 323.7 billion including Rs 90.15 billion foreign assistance under PSDP for 2017-18.

The government had earmarked Rs 188 billion against the demand of Rs 304 billion for NHA for the current financial year 2016-17, whereas Rs 165.15 billion have so far been utilized.

A huge amount of Rs 38 billion has earmarked for construction of Hakla on M-1 to Yarik D I Khan motorway (CPEC), Rs 25.25 billion for Thakot to Havelian 118 km (CPEC), Rs 56 billion for Lahore-Abdul Hakeem section, Rs 11 billion to upgrade of motorway link from Kohat via Jhand, Rs 30.25 billion for Multan-Sukkur section credit financing, Rs 9.5 billion for construction of Sialkot-Lahore motorway, Rs 1.5 billion for Basima-Khuzdar (CPEC), Rs 4.6 billion for dualization of Yarik-Mughalkot-Zhob section CPEC western alignment, and Rs 800 million for Thakot to Havelian (CPEC).

Government has earmarked Rs12.05 billion in the PSDP for 2017-18 for new schemes of NHA including Rs 5 billion for construction of Lahore-Sialkot motorway via Narang Mandi to Narowal, Rs 2 billion for dualization of Sialkot-Pasrur road, Rs 2 billion for Kohala-Muzaffarabad 4 lane dual carriageway and Rs 1 billion for dualization of Rawalpindi-Kahuta road with overhead bridge at Sehala.

The government has earmarked 13.56 billion for Communication division (other than NHA) in the PSDP for 2017-18.