ISLAMABAD, Nov 5: The government on Friday agreed to award three road development projects, including the Karachi Mass Transit Project, of over Rs12.5 billion to Malaysian firms on build, operate and transfer basis.

This was announced by Communications Minister Shamim Siddiqui in a meeting with Malaysian Works Minister Seri S. Samy Vellu here.

The government decided to award the Rs6.3 billion project of Khanewal-Faisalabad Motorway to Malaysia after Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz directed the communications ministry to redress the reservations of the Malaysian Construction Industry Development Board about the project. The two sides have already signed a memorandum of understanding in this regard.

A source in the ministry said Malaysia had shown concern over low income-generation potential of the project. The government had agreed to address all the concerns of Malaysia so that the project could be commissioned as soon as possible, the source said.

The construction of the Karachi project will be completed at an estimated Rs2.7 billion. Under the plan, a 12km road from Orangi Town to the Cantonment Station will be dualised and a road will be constructed from North Karachi to Nazimabad with its branches to Banaras Chowk and Liaquatabad.

The Rawalpindi Bypass and an interchange near Turnol will be constructed at a cost of Rs3.36 billion.

It was decided in the meeting that MoUs for the Karachi and Rawalpindi projects would be signed in a couple of days.

The two sides also agreed to transfer technology in the field of construction and exchange delegations in this regard.