M-13 motorway to cost Rs205b

The 43rd meeting of the Board of Directors of the Public Private Partnership Authority (P3A) was held under the chairmanship of Muhammad Ali, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation. Chairman of the Privatisation Commission, to review key developments in Pakistan's public-private partnership (PPP) agenda.

A major focus of the session was the National Highway Authority's proposal for the Rs205 billion Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway Project (M-13), a strategic transport corridor aimed at improving regional connectivity, easing mobility constraints,. supporting broader economic activity.

The project once completed would reduce the Lahore-Rawalpindi distance by about 100km. cut travel time by more than an hour compared to the existing Lahore-Islamabad Motorway (M-2).

The Board reviewed the proposal under the provisions of the Public Private Partnership Authority Act, 2017, emphasizing compliance with procurement rules, transparency requirements,. value-for-money principles.

It was decided that the National Highway Authority, as the implementing agency, will proceed through the Ministry of Communications to secure necessary federal approvals in line with applicable legal. regulatory frameworks.

The Board noted that key commercial aspects of the project, including financing structure, concession period, tolling mechanism, risk allocation,. investor returns will be assessed at the appropriate stage under the approved transaction framework.

The meeting brought together senior government officials, including the Minister for Planning, Development. Special Initiatives (also serving as Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission), the Secretary of the Privatisation Division, the Member (PSD&C) of the Planning Commission, representatives of the Finance Division, private-sector board members, and senior officials from P3A and the Privatisation Division.

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