By Ayesha Saba

Different divisions of the federal government have spent Rs5.36 billion on 22 development projects in Gwadar under PSDP 2025-26 against an allocation of Rs6.85 billion by the end of March 2026.

According to the Planning Commission documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the federal government had allocated Rs16.79 billion for these projects for the Fiscal Year 2025-26.

The total cost of these 22 projects stands at Rs184 billion, reflecting the scale of federal investment aimed at transforming Gwadar into a key economic and logistics hub. The projects are currently at various stages of implementation, with cumulative expenditure reaching over Rs119 billion by June 30, 2025.

The project mix highlights a diversified development approach, spanning infrastructure, energy, maritime, education, and social sectors. The major ongoing schemes include the construction of Gwadar-Ratodero Road, the development of the New Gwadar International Airport, and multiple initiatives under the Gwadar Development Authority.

The New Gwadar International Airport remains the single largest project in the region with an approved cost of Rs54.98 billion.

The project incurred an estimated expenditure of Rs42.72 billion up to June 2025, leaving a throw-forward of Rs12.26 billion. An allocation of Rs4.01 billion was made for 2025-26, against which Rs3.43 billion was released and Rs2.34 billion utilized by March 30, 2026.

The Construction of Gwadar Ratodero Road Project (M-8) has an estimated expenditure of Rs32.80 billion up to June 2025, with a throw-forward of Rs5.13 billion. The project received an allocation of Rs3 billion for the current fiscal year, but the releases amounted to only Rs600 million. The utilization stood at Rs592 million by the end of March 2026.

The Construction of Shehzanik Dam in Gwadar District, under the Water Resources Division, has a total cost of Rs2.23 billion, with an estimated expenditure of Rs1.75 billion up to June 2025 and a throw-forward of Rs482 million. An allocation of Rs220 million was made for 2025-26. However, no funds have yet been released or utilized as of March 30, 2026.

Similarly, the acquisition of land for rail connectivity from Gwadar via Besima to Jacobabad, under the Railways Division, with a cost of Rs15.59 billion, has an allocation of Rs10 million for 2025-26, with utilization standing at Rs3 million till March 2026.

The Rs25 billion Gwadar Development Authority Business Plan under the Finance Division (Govt of Balochistan) received an allocation of Rs25 billion, but only Rs75 million was released and utilized.

The award of scholarships to Gwadar students costing Rs165 million has an allocation of Rs18 million, with only Rs9 million released and Rs5 million utilized.

The Gwadar Blue Economy Centre, Phase I, under the Maritime Affairs Division, with a cost of Rs1.50 billion, received an allocation of Rs15 million, of which only Rs5 million was released and Rs2 million utilized.

Several projects, however, have shown complete or near-complete utilization. The Gwadar Safe City Project, approved by the CDWP in April 2025 at a cost of Rs2.48 billion, received an allocation of Rs1.5 billion, with Rs1.02 billion released and fully utilized.

The Necessary Facilities of Fresh Water Treatment, Water Supply and Distribution Project, costing Rs11.20 billion, received an allocation of Rs471 million, with Rs142 million released and fully utilized.

Under the Science and Technology Research Division, the Strengthening of Oceanographic Research Sub Station Gwadar, costing Rs300 million, received Rs150 million, with Rs74 million released and Rs6 million utilized.

Acquisition of 750 acres at Grandani Janubi as per the Gwadar Master Plan, under the Maritime Affairs Division, with a cost of Rs3.92 billion, received an allocation of Rs507 million, against which Rs449 million was released and Rs390 million utilized by the end of March 2026.

The Establishment of a Project Management Cell for the Creation of a Shipyard at Gwadar, under the Defence Division, with a cost of Rs773 million, received an allocation of Rs86 million, with Rs65 million released and Rs22 million utilized.

The Establishment of the FG Junior Public School Gwadar under the Defence Division received an allocation of Rs100 million, with Rs60 million released.

Credit: INP-WealthPk