ISLAMABAD: The National Highway Authority (NHA) has decided to undertake nine projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode, including the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway and projects of CPEC and Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC).

The move is meant not only to save the state money but also to implement a higher degree of transparency in the award of contracts.

To encourage the private sector for participating in the projects including construction of national highways, motorways, tunnels and bridges, a Public-Private Partnership Cell has been set up in the NHA.

The move was essential as the value of dollar has increased, giving rise to prices of cement, steel and building materials, but due to administrative measures the cost of executing projects has declined, a report submitted by the NHA to the ministry of communications said.

Four projects worth Rs135 billion have been completed on Build-Operate-Transfer basis, which include conversion of four-lane highway into six-lane Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2021