Islamabad: The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will extend USD 210.12 million in financing to Pakistan to support the reconstruction of the National Highway N-5 under the Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Framework. The news has been sourced from an article on January 6.
According to the details, this initiative marks AIIB’s first independent transport sector project in Pakistan. The project aims to enhance climate resilience, operational efficiency, and road safety by upgrading critical four-lane sections into climate-resilient six-lane dual carriageways.
The project is currently under evaluation and is expected to receive AIIB approval by May. The first phase has an estimated cost of USD 247.75 million, with the government contributing USD 37.63 million. The overall cost of the Multi-Phase Programme (MPP) is USD 587.98 million, with AIIB’s total loan contribution amounting to USD 500 million and the federal government contributing USD 87.98 million.
The N-5 is Pakistan’s longest national highway, connecting Karachi to Torkham, passing through major cities such as Hyderabad, Sukkur, Multan, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. The highway plays a crucial role in the country’s transportation network, linking key economic and trade hubs.
AIIB’s financing will facilitate the reconstruction of four highway sections, covering 213 kilometres across Islamabad Capital Territory, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh, as well as two bridges in Sindh.
This effort aligns with the National Highway Authority’s 20-year, four-phase plan to modernise and expand the country’s critical road infrastructure.
Phase-1 Details
The first phase focuses on two tiers:
Tier 1: Reconstruction of two sections – Rawalpindi to Burhan (44 km) and Nowshera to Peshawar (31 km) – and the Nai Baran Bridge near Hyderabad, covering a total of 75 km.
Tier 2: Reconstruction of Lahore to Gujranwala (68 km) and Ranipur to Rohri (70 km), along with the Indus River Bridge in Hyderabad, covering 138 km in total.
Components of Phase-1, Tier 1
Civil works for two highway sections and the Nai Baran Bridge.
Design review and construction supervision.
Baseline costs, including resettlement, environmental and social management, and administrative fees.
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