National Highway Authority directed to prioritise financially viable projects, avoid debt burden

Federal Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema has asked the National Highway Authority (NHA) to focus on projects capable of supporting their costs and to prepare a workable plan for lasting financial stability. Profit by Pakistan Today reported that he gave the instructions during a review of the authority’s finances and planning, including work with an Asian Development Bank consultant.

Cheema called for project schedules and NHA’s institutional capabilities to be assessed, with PC-I documents using commercially realistic measures for Central Development Working Party appraisal. He also sought project groupings by viability and funding needs, and early delivery of feasibility reviews to the Finance Division’s Central Monitoring Unit. He said outside or commercial borrowing should not lead to a smaller Public Sector Development Programme allocation, while urging faster joint work on project mapping, feasibility and financial modelling to limit future repayment pressure.