National Highway Authority (NHA) is all set to request an additional Rs 40 billion in the current financial year 2016-17 to expedite work on road projects and complete them before the general elections 2018, it is learnt. The government released over Rs 166 billion including Rs 79 billion foreign aid for infrastructure projects of NHA against the budgeted allocation of Rs 188 billion under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for 2016-17.
However the Authority's expenditures are expected to cross the Rs 220 billion mark and the government would be requested for additional funds. Senior officials at NHA revealed to Business Recorder that Chairman NHA frequently meets Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and briefs him about the progress on different highways and motorways projects and has been assured of timely releases.
NHA is targeted to complete 12 motorways/highways out of the ongoing 13 mega projects by 2018, but it requires additional finances. NHA is in the process of doing its accounts to justify its demand of additional money for different road projects and according to initial estimates the Authority would require up to Rs 40 billion additional releases in the current financial year to complete and/or expedite work on some projects. The Sharif administration is focused on these projects and wants to complete them before the general election 2018.
PM has directed NHA to complete metro bus project connecting new Islamabad Airport with Peshawar Mor at an estimated cost of Rs 16.5 billion by August 14, 2017. NHA has succeeded in making significant progress on different infrastructure projects like Lowari tunnel, Lyari Expressway, Karachi Hyderabad Motorway (M-9) project and Gwadar-Hoshab section of Rattodero-Gwadar Motorway (M-8) - projects that the PML-N would take credit for during the election campaign.
Officials further told Business Recorder that Chairman NHA is likely to meet PM in the current week and may then demand additional funds. NHA has demanded over Rs 700 billion under PSDP for 2017-18 for 76 projects including Rs 500 billion for China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) related projects. The proposed amount includes Rs 364.8 billion local component and Rs 337.6 billion foreign aid.
According to NHA officials, it includes Rs 148 billion for CPEC-western alignment, Rs 183 billion for the eastern alignment, Rs 72 billion for northern alignment and Rs 95 billion for Peshawar-Karachi motorway. Only two projects ie Thakot-Havilian and Multan-Sukkur were approved at a cost of $4 billion in the early harvest CPEC projects, while three more projects have been recently approved for financing. NHA spokesperson told Business Recorder that no formal summary has so far been sent to Prime Minister, but the issue is being discussed internally.