Half-Built and Abandoned: Why Islamabad’s 10th Avenue Is Still Waiting

Islamabad's 10th Avenue project has faced prolonged delays since of insufficient funding, leaving partially completed infrastructure vulnerable to deterioration and potentially increasing reconstruction costs, according to a written reply submitted to the National Assembly by Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi.

Key points

• According to The minister's response, neither the Capital Development Authority (CDA) nor the contractor, National Logistics Cell (NLC), was responsible for the delay.
• To accelerate construction and limit further losses, the federal administration has been called on to provide adequate funding through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
• According to the minister's reply, cumulative expenditure on the project has reached Rs.
• The funding shortfall and delays in releasing funds during project execution were identified as the primary reasons for the slow progress.
• Instead, the reply attributed the project's stalled progress mainly to the lack of required funds and delays in their release.

Notably, the project was originally approved at a cost of Rs. 12.14 billion, with a 21-month completion period beginning March 21, 2022. Under the approved project document, it was scheduled to be completed by December 20, 2023. While its approved cost has not been revised, nevertheless, the project remains unfinished.

According to the minister's reply, cumulative expenditure on the project has reached Rs. 4.09 billion. The federal administration issued a total of Rs. 4.14 billion between fiscal years 2021-22 and 2024-25, but the funding provided during that period was insufficient to ensure completion on schedule. Islamabad Introduces Online Driving Licence Services. No funds allocated for 10th Avenue in FY2025-26.

Meanwhile, the project was not included in the federal government's budgetary allocations for fiscal year 2025-26, the reply stated, adding that no funds had been allocated since that fiscal year began.

In practice, the administration issued Rs. 2.96 billion in FY2021-22, followed by Rs. 1.63 billion in FY2022-23, Rs. 400 million in FY2023-24 and Rs. 627.09 million in FY2024-25.

Corresponding expenditures stood at Rs. 1.43 billion, Rs. 1.63 billion, Rs. 400 million and Rs. 625.99 million, respectively. The funding shortfall and delays in releasing funds during project execution were identified as the primary reasons for the slow progress.

According to The minister's response, neither the Capital Development Authority (CDA) nor the contractor, National Logistics Cell (NLC), was responsible for the delay. CDA Seals Islamabad Newspaper Market.

For context, the prolonged suspension of work has left partially completed infrastructure exposed to further deterioration. According to the response, extra reconstruction may be required when construction resumes, potentially adding to the cost borne by the public exchequer.

According to The reply, a funding request of Rs. 8.05 billion had already been submitted to the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives through the proper channel.

Notably, the project's completion now depends on the availability of sufficient funds and their timely release, according to the minister's response. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

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Taken together, the developments around half-Built and Abandoned: Why Islamabad's 10th Avenue Is Still Waiting point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.