The Punjab Communication and Works Department (C&WD) has extended the deadline for a tender which is part of the Punjab Arterial Roads Improvement project (PARIP) in Pakistan. 

The project's primary objective is to upgrade approximately 535 km of provincial highways in south Punjab. This upgrade involves transforming the existing two-lane roads into divided four-lane roads, incorporating road safety measures and climate resilience features. The rehabilitation work will be carried out on the Depalpur – Pakpattan Sharif – Arifwala – Burewala – Vehari corridor, which comprises the following three segments:

• Lot 1: Stretch from Pakpattan Sharif to Arifwala, covering a distance from 48km to 76km, totaling 28 km;
• Lot 2: Spanning from Arifwala to Burewala, ranging from 76km to 110km, covering 34 km; and
• Lot 3: Covering the Burewala to Vehari section, extending from 110km to 150km, covering a distance of 40 km.

Furthermore, it will involve the engagement of concessionaires to manage the operations and maintenance of the project roads, utilizing a tolling system and a performance-based maintenance approach. In addition to these improvements, the project aims to support the government in achieving several key initiatives, including:

1. Establishment of a dedicated entity with streamlined funding to oversee the management of all provincial highways in Punjab.

2. Conducting a comprehensive road safety assessment for Punjab's provincial highway network and initiating a pilot program for the Safe System approach, complete with a framework and action plan.

3. Enhancing the climate resilience of the road network and bolstering the disaster-response capabilities of the Communication and Works Department.

The Employer has applied for financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) with co-financing from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) toward the cost of the PARIP.

The deadline for the tender submission is October 11, 2023.