A consortium led by a state-owned Chinese company has requested Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani to prevent a senator from obstructing the N-55 CAREC Tranche-III highway expansion, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), The Express Tribune reported, citing a letter by the company dated August 26, 2025.
The NXCC-RA-DC Joint Venture said that a senator was attempting to block contract awards for the 326-kilometer dualization of the N-55 highway, spanning Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Dera Ismail Khan.
The consortium, comprising Ningxia Communications Construction Co Ltd, Rustam Associates, and Dynamic Constructors, noted that it had been declared the lowest evaluated bidder for all four construction lots with a margin of Rs13.2 billion, following an ADB-approved procurement process.
The joint venture urged Chairman Gilani to safeguard the Senate from being exploited for “vested commercial interests” and to ensure the project proceeds without interference.
According to the letter, losing bidders reportedly enlisted the senator to pressure officials into reopening the bidding process, despite the ADB’s No Objection Certificate (NOC) and the federal government’s commitment under its loan agreement to hire a contractor approved by the lender.
“This misuse of parliamentary privilege jeopardizes a nationally significant project, unfairly maligns public servants, and risks Pakistan’s standing with international financial partners,” the consortium said.
The Rs146 billion N-55 CAREC project is part of Pakistan’s obligations under the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) programme, co-financed by the ADB, and is aimed at enhancing regional trade and connectivity.
Observers warn that delays could affect Pakistan’s credibility with international lenders and slow the development of key infrastructure. Earlier this year, Mishal Pakistan, a partner of the World Economic Forum, had also highlighted potential conflicts of interest in parliamentary proceedings.
