ISLAMABAD: A major Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded project to rebuild Pakistan’s flood-damaged highways has been rated “less than successful” by the bank’s own independent evaluators, contradicting an earlier internal assessment that deemed it a success.
According to a Business Recorder report on a newly released validation report by the ADB’s Independent Evaluation Department (IED), the $218.8 million ‘Post-Flood National Highways Rehabilitation Project’ was found to be “less than effective and less than likely sustainable.” The project, launched after the catastrophic 2010 floods and backed by a $196.9 million ADB loan, rehabilitated 201 kilometres of national highways and 21 bridges across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh.
While the project was rated relevant and efficient—restoring vital transport links and achieving a 17.1% economic return—the IED identified critical shortcomings. The report found insufficient evidence that key targets for safer and more efficient traffic were fully met. A significant lapse was the cancellation of 12 planned bridges under the ADB loan, which were later completed using Pakistani government funds.
Furthermore, sustainability concerns were raised. Evaluators noted a lack of clear evidence that adequate operations and maintenance budgets are in place to protect the rehabilitated assets long-term, despite Pakistan’s reliance on toll revenues for road upkeep.
The IED acknowledged the project’s importance in helping communities recover but warned that weak monitoring, incomplete outputs, and uncertain maintenance financing led to the downgrade. The department has recommended a full project performance evaluation by 2026.
Meanwhile a major investigation has been launched into allegations that admissions to medical and other professional colleges in Balochistan were secured using fake mark sheets and certificates over the last four years.
The Balochistan Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BBISE) has constituted a special committee on the orders of the Balochistan High Court to probe the scandal. The committee will scrutinize records from 2021 to 2025.
BBISE Chairman Muhammad Ishaq confirmed the development, stating that the three-member committee is headed by Board Controller Zia-ul-Haq Kakar.
