ISLAMABAD: The federal government is likely to allocate Rs160.8 billion for the National Highways Authority (NHA) under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2023-24.

Official documents revealed that Rs106.27 billion has been proposed for 66 ongoing projects, Rs10 billion for three VGF for BOT schemes and Rs44.5 billion for 44 new projects for 2023-24. The total proposed allocations included Rs147.7 billion local and Rs13.09 billion foreign components.

The throw forward of NHA stands at Rs1.65 trillion. According to the documents among new projects, Rs6 billion for dualization and rehabilitation of Karachi-Kararo project, Rs6 billion for dualization and rehabilitation of Kararo-WadhandKuchlak–Chaman, Rs2.2 billion for Rehabilitation and up-gradation of Pezu-Tank Road, Rs2.2 billion for Yarik Interchange to Tank road, Rs1 billion for construction of two-lane DI Khan Bypass, Rs4 billion for construction of Abdul Khel Interchange to Dhakki to Kalurkot, Rs1 billion for Rehabilitation and up-gradation of Kundal Interchange to Chashma (DI Khan development package) and Rs1.8 billion for rehabilitation and reconstruction of N-5 from Moro to Ranipur.

Among the VGF for BOT Schemes, Rs3.3 billion are proposed for the construction of Kharian—Rawalpindi Motorway, Rs5.7 billion for Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway and Rs1 billion for Sialkot (Sambdal)—Kharian Motorway.

Among the ongoing scheme, the government has proposed Rs2.5 billion for Karachi-Lahore Motorway (Land Acquisition) (CPEC) i. Lahore Abdul Hakeem ii. Muttan Sukkur, Rs2.5 billion for Khyber Pass Economic Corridor project, Rs5 billion for Construction of Lahore-Sialkot Motorway (LSM) Link (4-Lane) via Narang Mandi to Narowal, Rs5 billion for Zhob to Kuchlak Road CPEC, Rs6 billion for Land Acquisition, Affected properties and Compensation for Rajanpur-DG Khan Section as 4-Lane Highway and Dualization and Rehabilitation of DG Khan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023