By Abdul Ghani

The federal government has earmarked Rs4.5 billion in the 2026-27 Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for constructing the Hoshab-Awaran section of the M-8 Motorway in Balochistan, according to a document available with Wealth Pakistan.

The project “Construction of Hoshab-Awaran-Khuzdar Section of M-8 Project, Package-I: Hoshab-Awaran (146km)” received approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on May 6, 2020.

The document shows that the project carries a cost of Rs25.836 billion. An amount of Rs9.544 billion has already been spent on the project, with the throw-forward liability standing at Rs16.292 billion, indicating that substantial construction work is yet to be completed.

No foreign exchange component is included in the proposed Rs4.5 billion for the project. The allocation is to help accelerate progress on the strategically important highway segment.

The Hoshab-Awaran section is part of the broader M-8 Motorway corridor, a key east-west route designed to improve connectivity between Gwadar and other parts of Balochistan and Pakistan. The corridor is considered important for facilitating trade, reducing travel times and supporting economic activity in some of the country’s less-developed regions.

The timely release of funds will be critical for maintaining construction momentum and preventing further accumulation of project liabilities. The proposed allocation signals the government’s intention to continue investing in transport infrastructure to strengthen regional integration and improve access to remote areas of Balochistan.

Credit: INP-WealthPk