The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Independent Evaluation Department (IED) has rated Pakistan’s Post-Flood National Highways Rehabilitation Project, with an estimated cost of USD 218.8 million, as less than successful.
Launched after the devastating floods of 2010, the Post-Flood National Highways Rehabilitation Project was found to be relevant and effective, but less efficient and less sustainable, according to a recently issued validation report. This rating differs from the Project Completion Report (PCR), which had declared the initiative successful.
Supported by an ADB loan of USD 196.9 million, the project helped rehabilitate 201 kilometers of national highways and 21 bridges across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh, restoring critical transport links in flood-affected areas.
Under the National Highway Authority (NHA), disaster management units were established, and staff were trained to manage post-disaster traffic challenges. The Project Completion Report rated the project as relevant. At completion, its Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) was 17.1 percent, compared to 20 percent at the appraisal stage.
However, the IED found insufficient evidence to confirm that key outcome targets—such as safe and efficient traffic flow—were achieved as planned. Notably, the initial 12 bridges included in the project were canceled and later completed using government funds, weakening the claim that all outcomes were delivered under the ADB loan.
Concerns were also raised regarding sustainability. While road maintenance in Pakistan is largely funded through toll revenues, reviewers noted a lack of clear evidence that operations and maintenance budgets are sufficient in the long term to protect the rehabilitated assets.
The IED report acknowledged that the project remains relevant and impactful, having helped reconnect communities and support recovery after the devastating floods. However, it warned that weak monitoring, incomplete outcomes, and uncertain financing for maintenance ultimately reduced the project’s overall rating.
The validation report also stated that a project performance evaluation should be prepared in 2026, as more than two years have passed since the project’s physical completion.
