Construction Monitoring & Evaluation Program (Strengthening & Improvement of Peshawar – Torkham Road, Khyber Agency) Monthly Progress Report # 34 (January 2016)

The project aims to strengthen and improve the road, which connects Pakistan with Afghanistan at the Torkham border. The road plays a crucial role in economic activities and provides timely logistical support to security agencies deployed in the region. The project is implemented by the FATA Secretariat and executed through the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) under the FARA contracting mode of USAID. FWO is responsible for the design and construction of the project, conforming to the National Highway Authority's (NHA) specifications and standard engineering practices. NESPAK provides design and control services to FWO, while AGES Consultants is entrusted with construction monitoring and evaluation services, including quality assurance and environmental monitoring on behalf of the USAID Pakistan Mission. As of January 2016, physical progress on the project has reached 97%, with 46 km of flexible and rigid pavements substantially completed and open for traffic. Construction activities on structural components are still in progress, with 128 out of 131 culverts, 18.79 km of retaining walls, 2.34 km of breast walls, 53.14 km of drains, 83 out of 85 utility ducts, and 11 out of 11 causeways completed. The project has achieved a physical progress of 1% during the reporting month, with a total accrual of US$ 81,767,588 out of US$ 84,364,699. The project is divided into seven packages, with PIL 01, PIL 02, and PIL 03 completed at 100% with accrued expenditures of US$ 9,978,082, US$ 9,383,484, and US$ 9,512,705, respectively. PIL 04, which includes bridges and multi-cell culverts, has also been completed at 100% with an accrued expenditure of US$ 3,668,533. PIL 05, which includes sections IV, V, VI, and bridges, has achieved a progress of 2% during the reporting month, with a total physical progress of 97% and an accrued expenditure of US$ 24,273,649. PIL 06, which includes sections VII and VIII, has achieved a progress of 3% during the reporting month, with a total physical progress of 93% and an accrued expenditure of US$ 13,540,957. PIL 07, which includes section IX, has achieved a progress of 1% during the reporting month, with a total physical progress of 93% and an accrued expenditure of US$ 6,550,339. Matters requiring attention include the constitution of remaining PILs, expiry of PIL 05, rectification of workmanship and quality issues at the Bhagiari check post, identification of a suitable gantry sign board, and provision of original and revised as-built drawings for the relocated water supply system along the road.