NHA Halts Bid Opening for Rs85 Billion CAREC Project Amid Allegations of Unfair Evaluation

The National Highway Authority (NHA) has postponed the bid opening for the Rs85 billion Tranche III of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) corridor project following claims of an unfair evaluation process.

The decision came unexpectedly, leaving representatives from 11 shortlisted firms waiting at the NHA headquarters for the scheduled 9:30 am bid opening.

An NHA spokesperson confirmed that the bidding process was suspended on the recommendation of the Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC). The process will resume once the GRC reviews a complaint filed by one of the bidders.

Tranche III includes four lots, with 20 firms submitting both technical and financial proposals. Six firms are competing for Lot-1 (58km, Rajanpur-Jampur), seven for Lot-2 (64km, Jampur-DG Khan), five for Lot-3 (112km, DG Khan-Tibbi Qaisrani), and two for Lot-4 (96km, Tibbi Qaisrani-DI Khan). After technical evaluations, five firms qualified for Lot-1 and Lot-2, four for Lot-3, and two for Lot-4. The total approved cost of the project is Rs85.44 billion.

The project involves expanding the N-55 highway into a four-lane road, connecting Rajanpur, DG Khan, and DI Khan. The NHA is already working on the first two tranches of the CAREC corridor, including a 66.37km section between Petaro and Sehawan and a 43.4km stretch between Ratodero and Shikarpur.

Sources revealed that concerns over alleged favoritism in the evaluation process led to the delay in bid opening.

The CAREC initiative, involving 11 countries and international partners, aims to foster economic cooperation, infrastructure development, and poverty reduction through coordinated policy and investment strategies.