Construction of roads in Sindh: NHA awards contracts at a rate above estimates

National Highway Authority (NHA) awarded contracts for construction of roads in Sindh at a rate 50 percent higher than estimates by engineers. This was revealed in a report issued by the Prime Minister Inspection Commission (PMIC) during inspection of roads and examination of records.
PMIC also noted that the cost of roads constructed by NHA in Sindh was 35% higher than the cost incurred by the Works and Services (W&S) Department Sindh. NHA maintains that the higher cost is due to involvement of National and International Consultants, escalation cushion of 10% and payment of interest at 8% to contractors. The Inquiry team also observed various discrepancies and shortcomings in procedures and construction works.
The report says that on the direction of the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan, PMIC carried out inspections and analysis of various types of roads built by NHA and Works & Services Department, Government of Sindh. PMIC constituted a Technical Inspection Team comprising Senior Engineers / Experts in road construction. The Inspection Team conducted survey of various highways in Sindh constructed by NHA and W&S Department Sindh It included Therri Bypass to Khairpur Road, sections of Kumb City Road, Thatta -Sajawal Road, Karachi Northern Bypass Road, Sindh Coastal Highway, Lyari Expressway, Hyderabad Mirpurkhas Road and Super Highway Jamshoro. It also carried out analysis and physical inspections, collected data, samples and all relevant information in order to prepare cost analysis and specification of various types of roads.