Lahore-Bahawalpur Motorway Project Likely To Begin In Next Fiscal Year
• Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal says work on the Lahore-Bahawalpur Motorway could start in the next fiscal year.
• The project’s tender had been awarded earlier but was later terminated after the 2018 change in government.
• The government says it remains committed to completing the motorway despite limited development funds.
The Lahore-Bahawalpur Motorway project is expected to move forward in the next financial year, with Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal informing a National Assembly committee that the government is committed to completing the strategically important route.
Also Read:
The update was shared during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning, chaired by Abdul Qadir Gilani, where lawmakers reviewed progress on major development projects.
During the meeting, committee member Naveed Qamar expressed concern over the long delay in the motorway project and sought a clear timeline for its completion. He described the Lahore-Bahawalpur route as a vital transport corridor and asked the ministry to explain the reasons behind the project’s slow progress.
Responding to the questions, Ahsan Iqbal said the motorway is an important part of Pakistan’s development corridor and holds significant national importance. He explained that the project’s tender had already been awarded in the past, but the scheme was terminated by the government that came into power in 2018.
The minister said authorities later explored implementing the project through a public-private partnership model. He added that international financing arrangements were also secured in an effort to revive the project.
Expressing optimism about the future of the scheme, Ahsan Iqbal said work is expected to begin during the next fiscal year and reiterated the government’s determination to ensure the motorway is completed.
The planning minister also highlighted the financial challenges facing development projects across the country. He noted that both federal and provincial governments are working within limited development budgets, restricting the pace of infrastructure spending.
He warned that delays in funding and project execution often lead to higher costs and economic losses, stressing that development schemes should be completed on time to avoid unnecessary financial burdens.
During the discussion, Naveed Qamar also pointed out that national-level committees do not meet regularly and suggested that parliamentary committee members should be included in relevant planning bodies to strengthen oversight, coordination and monitoring of development projects.
Read all the Breaking News Live on pakistantimes.com and Get Latest English News & Updates from Pakistan Times. Follow us on Whatsapp channel for more.
