Rs465b Lahore-Bahawalnagar motorway faces scrutiny over unmet guidelines, resource concerns

The federal government has conditionally recommended a Rs465 billion provincial project, named Lahore-Bahawalnagar motorway, for approval in violation of the National Fiscal Pact and instructions of the Prime Minister's Office, as well as without securing funding and firming up design. The cost is Rs201 billion, or 76%, higher than the original price tag set two years ago, and the road project "jeopardises the viability, need and up-gradation of Mainline-I project" of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, reveals official documents. The Central Development Working Party (CDWP), which has the mandate to clear development schemes, on Tuesday recommended the Lahore-Sahiwal-Bahawalnagar motorway project, costing a total of Rs465.1 billion, for final approval of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).