[CPEC] China funds the Khuzdar-Basima Road in Pakistan

Project narrative

In 2016, the Pakistan-China Joint Cooperation Committee approved the Khuzdar-Basima Road project costing USD$200 million. building the 110 kilometers long road project includes objectives such as the road contributing to the economic and social development of Balochistan, serving mineral rich Sandak and Rekodek areas, and linking the National Highways N-85, N-25 and Motorway M-8. However, the other two sources report the cost to be USD$80 million. It is possible that the $80m is contributed by China but this likelihood cannot be confirmed. During January 2017, it was reported that Pakistan's Under Communication Division contributed 310 million Pakistani rupee towards the 110 km section. In December 2017, the funding from China was temporarily paused. After that, no further information can be found about the relaunch of the project. CPEC website confirms the estimated cost of US$80 million. It also suggests that reports on Feasibility and PC-I have been completed and LOI forwarded to Chinese side. According to CPEC website as of Nov 2018, procedural formalities to be completed shortly. The Pakistan Ministry of Finance economic survey for 2018 reports the project is planned to be completed by 2020. A Pakistani government Finance Ministry annual project status report in May from 2017-18 does not specify the total loan commitment, but records that in May from 2017-18 China fulfilled part of the loan at the amount of 11.374 million USD, meaning the project is likely to have started or at least committed. Construction of the road began in October 2019 and finished on April 28, 2021; however, as of November 2021, funding from China was reported to still be suspended under charges of corruption.