Ayesha Saba

Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Limited (PIDCL) has taken over 21 development schemes from Pak-PWD, expanding its portfolio across Karachi, Hyderabad, and other regions, reports Wealth Pakistan.

These development schemes, both ongoing and new, total Rs13 billion in cost. The company has already completed infrastructure projects worth Rs36.7 billion.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) PIDCL Waseem Bajwa shared these details during the first meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives. The sub-committee reviewed PIDCL’s key updates on infrastructure projects along with newly transferred schemes from Pak-PWD.

A total of 10 ongoing schemes worth Rs9,012.946 million have been transferred from Pak-PWD to PIDCL. These include six projects for road, sewerage, and park development in Karachi, three in Hyderabad under the PM Development Program, and one each in Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas, and Sukkur for water supply and solar lighting.

In addition, 11 new schemes worth Rs4,148.245 million have been transferred to the company. These new schemes include eight projects in Karachi (park construction, a cricket stadium, an IT institute, and road rehabilitation) and three projects in Hyderabad (nullah rehabilitation, construction of a girls’ degree college with a library, and a major water supply line).

Bajwa briefed the committee on the company’s progress and contributions to urban development, particularly in Karachi. He noted that PIDCL’s journey began in 2014–15 with the establishment of a Special Project Management Unit for the Green Line BRT, later evolving into SIDCL under the Cabinet Division, and ultimately becoming PIDCL in December 2021 under the Ministry of Housing and Works.

The committee was informed that PIDCL has completed major infrastructure projects worth Rs36.7 billion, including flyovers, provision of fire tenders for KMC, multiple water pipeline schemes, development works on PNS Mehran Road, and the landmark Green Line BRT (Phase I).

At present, PIDCL is executing two projects worth Rs4.78 billion: the 1.8 km Green Line BRT Karachi (Phase II), recently launched at Rs4.59 billion, and the 1 km Orange Line–Green Line BRT integration, which is 75% complete with a PC-1 cost of Rs0.058 billion. Bajwa further told the committee that the company has ensured close monitoring and timely launch of every scheme in Karachi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Hyderabad transferred from PWD.

The PIDCL chief informed the committee that if new schemes are assigned to the company under PSDP 2025–26, formal approval would be required from the planning and finance divisions. “Once we receive written approval, we are ready to undertake the projects,” he assured the committee.

The committee also raised concerns over inter-ministerial coordination and highlighted challenges in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme (SAP) schemes, particularly in cases where federal funding is executed through provincial bodies. Syed Sami ul Hassan Gillani, the convener, noted that the main challenge lies in Punjab, where the provincial government has not been responding as previously assured by the federal government.

It was also noted that Punjab lacks the capacity to effectively manage and execute several transferred schemes, further contributing to delays in implementation and underutilization of funds.

Credit: INP-WealthPk