The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has greenlit 27 major development projects worth more than Rs1.5 trillion — all in a meeting that lasted less than two hours. Most projects focus on infrastructure and development in Sindh and Balochistan, raising eyebrows over the pace of approvals and their compliance with IMF fiscal conditions.
The meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, approved projects across sectors including roads, energy, hydropower, education, health, environment, and tourism. While the Planning Ministry initially stated that 28 projects were on the agenda, it clarified that one — the Sehat Sahulat Card scheme — was referred to a committee.
Among the most high-profile schemes is the long-delayed Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M-6), approved at Rs363 billion. This marks a 121% increase from its original 2020 cost of Rs165 billion. The motorway, the only missing north-south link in Pakistan’s highway network, is now part of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) after multiple failed attempts under the public-private partnership model. The Islamic Development Bank is already funding two sections, but Chinese firms may be given the opportunity to build the entire route.
Other approvals include:
N-25 “killer road” upgrades: Three sections between Karachi, Quetta, and Chaman worth Rs415 billion.
Green Pakistan Programme: Rs122.2 billion for forest restoration, biodiversity, and eco-markets.
16MW Naltar Hydropower Project: Rs10.6 billion.
Flood management in Balochistan’s Kachhi Plains: Rs17 billion.
Punjab Laptop Scheme: Rs27 billion.
Tourism for Economic Growth (Punjab): Rs12.2 billion.
Education development: Rs14 billion for the PM’s education fund and Rs21.2 billion for higher education programmes.
Several projects involve federal funding for provincial works — such as road corridors and sewerage upgrades — that experts warn violate the National Fiscal Pact under Pakistan’s IMF programme. These include Rs49.3 billion for Lahore’s sewerage system, Rs37.7 billion for the Sindh Coastal Highway, and Rs41 billion for the Mehran Highway dualisation.
Dar stressed that the approvals reflect the government’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development. However, the rapid pace of clearance — Rs1.5 trillion worth of projects in under two hours — is likely to trigger further debate on transparency and fiscal discipline.
