News
ECNEC Approves New Roads, Solar Power and Infrastructure Projects Across Pakistan
By Mariam Khan
Real Estate Analyst
3 min read
At the same October 10, 2026 meeting, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved several more projects. They include the construction of the Buleda–Proom and Proom–Chedgai roads in Balochistan, the construction and upgradation of the Dirgi–Shahbozai–Taunsa Sharif road, 100MW of distributed solar photovoltaic capacity in Gilgit-Baltistan, the 40.8MW Koto Hydropower Project in Lower Dir, and the establishment of King Salman Hospital in Tarlai, Islamabad. The official announcement did not give construction-start dates for the individual projects. Announcements are published by the Press Information Department.
Why No Dates or Costs Are Given Here
The announcement as relayed to us lists the projects but does not give start dates, and it does not give costs in the material we have. We therefore cannot say what each project will cost, how it will be funded or when work will begin. Approval is a step before implementation, and several steps remain.
Why the Roads Are About Local Connectivity
Two of the road schemes, Buleda–Proom and Proom–Chedgai, are in Balochistan. The third runs from Dirgi and Shahbozai to Taunsa Sharif, and the reports do not say which district or province it serves. Better roads can improve access to markets and services and make nearby land more useful commercially. The reports do not give lengths or the districts served beyond the names, so we do not estimate the benefit. Other road work reported recently includes the 66km Astore–Skardu road in Gilgit-Baltistan, which is a separate Army project.
Why the Power Projects Are Different in Scale
The package includes 100MW of distributed solar in Gilgit-Baltistan and the 40.8MW Koto Hydropower Project in Lower Dir. The reports do not say how the 100MW would be spread across sites, or when either project would produce power. Electricity infrastructure could support industrial and residential development in these regions over time, but that depends on completion and connection to the grid. Gilgit-Baltistan's housing needs are covered in our report on the €54m climate-resilient homes project, which is a separate item.
Why the Hospital Is the Islamabad Item
King Salman Hospital in Tarlai is the only project in the list located in the capital. The reports do not give its size, cost or timeline. A major hospital can affect demand for nearby housing and services, but the reports do not make that claim, and we have not assumed it.
Why This Sits Beside Other Approvals
ECNEC also approved the Punjab Urban Land Systems Enhancement Project and the Gwadar water supply scheme from Mirani Dam at the same meeting. Federal development spending is tracked in the PSDP releases for the first quarter of FY27. The reports do not say whether these approvals are funded from that allocation.
What This Means for Landowners, Businesses and Investors
Landowners near the named roads and the Tarlai site should not assume price changes from the approvals alone. Businesses in the regions concerned may benefit from better roads and power once built. The signals to watch are the approved costs, contractor selection, funding releases and construction start dates. Updates are published by the Press Information Department and the Ministry of Planning.