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 and Chairman of the Privatisation Commission. The session focused on reviewing key developments in Pakistan's public-private partnership (PPP) agenda, with a major highlight being the National Highway Authority's (NHA) proposal for the Rs205 billion Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway Project (M-13).
Strategic Transport Corridor
The M-13 is envisioned as a strategic transport corridor aimed at improving regional connectivity, easing mobility constraints, and supporting broader economic activity. Once completed, the project would reduce the Lahore-Rawalpindi distance by approximately 100 kilometers and cut travel time by more than an hour compared to the existing Lahore-Islamabad Motorway (M-2). This significant reduction in travel time is expected to enhance trade and commerce between key urban centers.
Compliance with PPP Act 2017
The Board reviewed the proposal under the provisions of the Public Private Partnership Authority Act, 2017, emphasizing compliance with procurement rules, transparency requirements, and value-for-money principles. It was decided that NHA, as the implementing agency, will proceed through the Ministry of Communications to secure necessary federal approvals in line with applicable legal and regulatory frameworks.
Commercial Aspects to be Assessed
The Board noted that key commercial aspects of the project, including financing structure, concession period, tolling mechanism, risk allocation, and investor returns, will be assessed at the appropriate stage under the approved transaction framework. This ensures that all financial and operational risks are properly evaluated before finalizing the PPP agreement.
Senior Officials in Attendance
The meeting brought together senior government officials, including the Minister for Planning, Development and 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. Their collective expertise underscores the importance of the M-13 project in Pakistan's infrastructure development plans.
