ISLAMABAD: Despite opening financial bids for two mega projects, including the cricket stadium and the New Islamabad Convention, Exhibition and Expo Centre (NICEEC), the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is yet to take a final decision on moving forward with either project.

The bid for the cricket stadium’s structure and road network was opened on July 19, 2026, with the lowest bid coming in at Rs8.9 billion.

Subsequently, sources said, the CDA had asked the consultant to assess the reasonability of the bid price.

Sources said the proposed stadium project had been slowed down for the time being. However, CDA officials said the consultant’s report was awaited and that the civic agency would move forward after receiving it.

According to the CDA’s plan, the proposed stadium is to be constructed in Zone III near D-12. Under the CDA’s bylaws, all types of construction are banned in the zone. However, the CDA says sports and recreational facilities can be established there.

Lowest bids for cricket stadium and NICEEC stand at Rs8.9bn and Rs37bn, respectively

Meanwhile, the CDA opened the financial bids for the NICEEC project on August 4, with the lowest bid coming in at a whopping Rs37 billion. However, the bid is yet to be accepted. Sources said the construction company later offered to complete the project for Rs34 billion.

Sources said some CDA officials had also recently prepared an estimate under which, if the federal government allowed a waiver of import duty and other taxes, the project could be completed for Rs25 billion. However, it is not yet clear whether the CDA will approach the federal government in this regard.

“We just carried out a rough working and if the government waived customs duty and other taxes, then this project could be completed roughly against Rs25 billion,” said an official.

It is relevant to note that the original PC-I of the project was worth Rs16 billion, as it was initially designed on an RCC structure.

However, major changes were subsequently made to the design, with steel fabrication added and the domed roof to be made of steel, converting the project from RCC to steel components. The height of the proposed building was also increased.

Therefore, the CDA received a whopping Rs37 billion bid from a China Construction Third Engineering Bureau-led joint venture. There were only two JVs in the race, both headed by Chinese companies.

Sources said the CDA management had decided to go for a third-party bid evaluation before moving forward.

NICEEC is being planned ahead of next year’s Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Islamabad. According to a CDA document, “the flagship facility will serve as a world-class multi-functional venue for conventions, exhibitions, expos, trade fairs and cultural events, and will also host the SCO summit in 2027.”

Meanwhile, for the cricket stadium project, a joint venture of Habib-ZKB-EA emerged as the successful bidder in the financial bid, quoting a price of Rs8.9 billion. Of this, Rs5.8 billion is for a three-tier stadium structure and Rs3.1 billion is for external works, including three kilometres of three-plus-three-lane roads and associated structures.

“Yes, the fate of the bids for these two projects is yet to be decided,” said a senior CDA officer.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2026