The federal government has made significant progress on the long-awaited Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway (M-13) project, deciding in principle to award the Rs. 205 billion infrastructure scheme to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) through a negotiated procurement process.
The decision was reached during a meeting of the Public Private Partnership Authority (P3A) Board of Directors, chaired virtually by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatization, Muhammad Ali.
The 117-kilometer motorway is expected to strengthen regional connectivity by shortening the distance between Lahore and Rawalpindi by nearly 100 kilometers. Officials estimate the route will reduce travel time by more than an hour compared to the existing M-2 Motorway.
According to the National Highway Authority (NHA), FWO is already working on the adjoining Lahore-Sialkot and Sialkot-Kharian motorway sections, enabling the organization to mobilize resources quickly and begin construction without unnecessary delays.
Officials noted that Section 20 of the Public Private Partnership Authority Act, 2017, permits negotiated procurement under specific circumstances. Following the board’s endorsement, the proposal will be presented to the federal cabinet for final approval.
Earlier this year, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved the motorway project at an estimated cost of Rs. 203.32 billion, highlighting its importance for Pakistan’s transport infrastructure.
The motorway will be developed under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. Government officials stated that key commercial aspects, including financing arrangements, concession period, tolling structure, and risk-sharing mechanisms, will be finalized in line with the approved transaction framework and applicable legal requirements.
Once completed, the M-13 motorway is expected to improve traffic flow, facilitate trade and logistics, and provide a faster travel corridor between major cities in Punjab, contributing to economic growth and regional development.
