By Ijaz Kakakhel

The Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2026-27 has allocated Rs3 billion for the Awaran-Naal Section of M8, even though the project requires Rs12 billion to be completed by the June 2027 deadline.

Expenditures on the 168-kilometre road project reached Rs20.2 billion by June 2026, according to project documents available with Wealth Pakistan.

This artery in Balochistan province is a critical missing link of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’s Western Alignment. The two-lane carriageway has a PC-I cost of Rs32.2 billion. Work on the project commenced in February 2024 and has been divided into three packages covering different sections of the route.

According to the project details, Package 2A, covering 54 kilometres, has a construction cost of Rs12.90 billion. Its physical progress has reached 50.11%.

Package 2B, extending 60 kilometres, carries a construction cost of Rs10.38 billion. Physical progress on this section stands at 45%, making it the least advanced of the three packages in percentage terms.

Meanwhile, Package 2C, covering another 54 kilometres, has recorded the highest physical progress at 60%. The construction cost of this package is Rs9.20 billion.

The contracts have also been divided among different joint ventures. M/s MATRACON-HABIB (JV) is carrying out work on Packages 2A and 2C, while M/s SPGEC-HRK-Shah Builders (JV) is responsible for Package 2B.

Provision of the required funding during the current fiscal year will be critical to completing the remaining work across all three packages by the deadline.

Credit: INP-WealthPk