The Government of Pakistan has initiated the two-year project to formulate the national transport policy and master plan to reduce travel time as well as boost the nation’s economic outlook, while positioning it as a regional trade and business hub.

The government also expects that the new policy and plan would enhance safe, efficient, and sustainable transport system to realise Pakistan’s Vision 2025.

The project will receive financial assistance of $15.4m from the Government of UK under its Pakistan Economic Corridors Programme (PECP), which will be administered by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The UK government will be funding the project through its Department for International Development (DFID).

It is reported to be one of the largest technical assistance projects on transport policy supported by DFID and ADB in Asia.

ADB Pakistan country director Werner Liepach said: “Inefficiencies in the performance of the transport sector costs Pakistan’s economy 4-6% of gross domestic product every year.

"ADB and other partners have been assisting Pakistan address the transport infrastructure deficit, but such infrastructure investment needs to be backed with the institutional improvement and policy intervention."

“ADB and other partners have been assisting Pakistan address the transport infrastructure deficit, but such infrastructure investment needs to be backed with the institutional improvement and policy intervention.”

This policy will be focusing on the Pakistan’s transport sector upgrade, offering long-term opportunities for all transport modes in Pakistan including railways, roads, ports and shipping, aviation and logistics services.

It will concentrate on improvement of road safety programmes, road asset management systems.

Image: A truck on a road in Pakistan. Photo: courtesy of Asian Development Bank.