Roadshow held: M-6 offered for foreign investment

The government Tuesday offered "Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M-6), a critical component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), for foreign investment in a roadshow, which would be completed with an estimated cost of over Rs204 billion.

According to the National Highways Authority (NHA), the project is planned to be completed in 30 months at construction cost of approximately Rs175 billion with the Intelligent Transport System (ITS). Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar last month presided over a meeting of the board of directors of the Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPPA), where it was decided that a private party would finance construction of the project, operate it for a defined concession period and transfer it back to the NHA, at no cost at the end of concession period of 25 years.

According to an official statement, the motorway project is estimated to cost Rs204.28 billion, and would take 33 months to complete. The NHA spokesperson told Business Recorder that in order to attract foreign investment the authority arranged a roadshow here Tuesday; where in Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M-6) was offered for foreign investment.

Besides NHA Chairperson Captain Sikandar Qayyum (retired), Zhang Bing, second secretary of Economic and Commercial Sector, Embassy of China, and Hasan Javed, secretary to the Commercial Counselor, Turkey, also participated in the road show.

The NHA's member PPPA Tufail Ahmad Sheikh, Member Coordination Asim Amin, and Member (Engineering Coordination) Arbab Ali were also present. The NHA chairman said Prime Minister Imran Khan was endeavoring hard for providing concrete infrastructure to the country for economic uplift.

To this effect, he said, road communication sector possesses great significance.

Qayyum said, except Sukkur-Hyderabad section, Peshawar-Karachi Motorway (PKM) project was complete. Now, the only missing link (Sukkur-Hyderabad Section) is being offered for foreign investment.

Giving detailed picture of the NHA's working, Asim Amin said, the NHA is the custodian of 47 national highways, motorways and strategic roads throughout the country. He said Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M-6) was the last missing link of Peshawar-Karachi Motorway and steps were under way to build this section with foreign investment.

The NHA (Public Private Partnership) General Manager, Azeem Tahir, said the length of proposed Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway would be 306km, 14 interchanges, one major bridge on River Indus, six flyovers, 10 service areas and 12 rest areas will also be built on the motorway.

The project is planned to be completed in 30 months at a construction cost of approximately Rs175 billion with ITS. The roadshow was rounded off with presentation of souvenirs to foreign guests.