Enhanced Capacity for Infra Planning

Improving the checks and filters at the planning stage, capacity building through training of the bureaucracy and improved data collection for evidence based policymaking

OVERVIEW

SEED is assisting the Planning & Development (P&D) Department and the Communication and Works (C&W) Department of KP to enhance its technical capacity for managing infrastructure project cycles – planning, implementation, and monitoring – more efficiently and effectively. Infrastructure projects represent 75 per cent of the KP’s annual budget, and SEED has identified critical gaps within the existing processes that lead to inefficient resource allocation and outcomes. Diverse interventions have been proposed to update and streamline the current planning systems for efficient planning, effective implementation and monitoring.

Enhanced Capacity for Infra Planning

SUB INTERVENTIONS

Appraisal Checklist

OVERVIEW

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) efforts often expose problems that should have been identified and addressed at the appraisal stage, preventing costly revisions and delays. SEED has developed a set of technical checklists for the relevant sections of Planning & Development (P&D) Department; these lists comprise the prerequisites for approving infra project approvals during Provincial Development Working Party (PDWPs). The checklists are as follows:

Three separate Technical PC-I Appraisal Checklists for:
(a) Buildings, (b) Roads, and (c) Bridges

One Technical Appraisal Checklist for PC-II proposals for feasibility studies
One Summary sheet for quick assessment of Revised PC-I

PROGRESS

These checklists have been reviewed and approved by the competent authorities during a workshop with over 30 participants from the Government. They are already being used by the relevant sections within P&D to appraise infra projects and are a part of discussions during the PDWPs. Now SEED is focusing on their seamless integration within the planning systems and processes of the C&W & P&D departments of KP.

STANDARDISED MODULAR DESIGNS FOR SMALL INFRA PROJECTS

OVERVIEW

Standardised modular designs for small infrastructure projects will improve engineering standards while reducing the costs of designing and planning. It will allow engineers to consult and compare engineering drawings, Bill of Quantities (BoQs) and Detailed Cost Estimates, while planning. The standard modular designs can accommodate a diverse range of possible geometric (e.g. lane width, traffic volume, terrain) and structural variables (e.g. climate, design life, serviceability index). SEED has already completed modular designs for small bridges (844 cases) and roads (882 scenarios), with culverts and retaining walls to follow. To facilitate accessibility and utility of Modular Designs, a web-application has also been developed that shall automate the process of project designing.

PROGRESS

Two training workshops have been conducted to discuss feedback and the utility of modular designs attended by around 100 engineers from C&W. In addition, regular consultative meetings have been held with relevant counterparts to ensure government ownership of the designs. C&W has issued directions that going forward, using Modular Designs is mandatory when designing proposals/PC-Is for all future projects, where applicable. SEED, in collaboration with C&W, plans to conduct 7-8 division-level workshops for field engineers to train them on using the Modular Design web application.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE STANDARDISED MODULAR DESIGNS →

Model TORs & Budget Allocation Guidelines for Feasibility Studies and PC-I

OVERVIEW

Project feasibility studies often overlook critical steps such as geotechnical assessments, seismic analyses, and heritage impact assessments. A significant reason is incomprehensive terms of references (TORs) at the feasibility stage and PC-I preparation. As a result, there have also been instances where feasibility studies underestimated actual expenditure (generally 0.2 per cent to 0.3 per cent of total project costs), leading to unforeseen problems during construction, which in turn led to delays, cost overruns, legal challenges, and other difficulties. A well-defined set of model TORs and realistic budget allocation guidelines can address these problems.

PROGRESS

Regular consultative meetings have been conducted with relevant counterparts to ensure a participatory process and government ownership of the formulated model TORs and Budget Allocation Guidelines. Model TORs have been officially circulated and a training workshop has also been conducted to discuss feedback and utility of Model TORs with around 100 engineers of C&W Department and its attached offices across KP attending:

Model TORs to procure consultancy services for developing feasibilities and PC-I
Guidelines for budget allocation for feasibility studies (PC-II)

A session was held with the Communication and Works Department field engineers, KP, on using the Standardised Modular Designs web app.

The Standardised Modular Designs web app is made to facilitate the construction of more resilient infrastructure and to encourage better public investment.

PROGRESS

Regular consultative meetings have been conducted with relevant counterparts to ensure a participatory process and government ownership of the formulated model TORs and Budget Allocation Guidelines. Model TORs have been officially circulated, and a training workshop has also been conducted to discuss feedback and utility of Model TORs with around 100 engineers of the C&W Department and its attached offices across KP attending:

Model TORs to procure consultancy services for developing feasibilities and PC-I
Guidelines for budget allocation for feasibility studies (PC-II)

Materials Testing Policy & Qualification Testing Protocols

OVERVIEW

Low-quality or substandard materials can lead to failure and safety issues after project completion. Recently some progress has been made toward a systematic and digitised M&E regime, but there needs to be a clear policy on materials testing. This needs to be rectified, so large projects such as bridges and hydropower plants undergo qualification (acceptance) testing before being launched.

PROGRESS

SEED has proposed a Materials Testing Policy and Quality Testing Protocols. The first will provide the following:

Guidance on project selection.
Protocols for on-site and off-site testing.
Role of third parties and other stakeholders.
Implementation measures.

The second will cover physical load tests for portions of large buildings, performance tests and relevant rules to ensure implementation.

Bridge Code Design

OVERVIEW

About 25 bridges were damaged (in KP and Azad Jammu and Kashmir) in the 2005 earthquake and 150 bridges in KP were washed away in the 2010 floods. But even without natural calamities, such infrastructure requires considerable repair. Just consider that 10,000 bridges of NHA as per a 2008 study need repair while a 2019 JICA study identifies more than 5,000 such bridges that need maintenance. The goal is to maximise value for money in development expenditure. Bridges made according to the Code will last longer, require less maintenance and repair (M&R) and be more climate-resilient. GoKP will spend less while building more intuitive and sustainable structures.

PROGRESS

SEED has initiated the development of an up-to-date Indigenous Bridge Design Code for KP, to help prevent unnecessary repairs/cost-overruns later. The KP Bridge Code lays specific emphasis on climate-resilient planning and the design of bridges. This is essential because the present codes are based on either the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Load & Resistance Factor Design (AASTHO LFRD) or date back to 1935. Internationally, codes are revised every three to five years; in the USA, about 25 revisions of bridge code have been made in the past 80 years. GoKP has agreed to a KP-specific bridge code – the TORs for which are finalised – that will incorporate local factors. The Technical Working Group for KP Bridge Design Code has been notified by the P&D Department, and 6 meetings were held along with national representatives of the National Highway Authority and Pakistan Engineering Council. The Code is in the final stages of development and will be submitted to GoKP.

With SEED's support, the Government of KP has formed a core working group of leading experts in the field of bridge engineering to design a homegrown Bridge Design Code for the province.

The aim is to build safe and dependable structures that can significantly cut the environmental footprint of the projects.

A meeting of the KP Bridge Design Code Working Group was held to finalise the draft of Pakistan's first indigenously developed code for bridge design.

THE KP BRIDGE CODE LAYS SPECIFIC EMPHASIS ON CLIMATE-RESILIENT PLANNING AND THE DESIGN OF BRIDGES.

WATCH THE VIDEO TO LEARN MORE →

Contract Management for Infra Projects

OVERVIEW

Another new initiative taken up by SEED, upon request from the government of KP, is better contract management of mega infrastructure projects to avoid cost overruns and revisions and delays. SEED held a workshop on contract management with KP government officials from 8 different departments. The workshop aimed to build participants’ capacity in contract management of development projects, particularly large infrastructure schemes.

SEED held a workshop on contract management with KP government officials from 8 different departments.

PROGRESS

Contract Management Manual has been developed based on an extensive mapping exercise of existing rules against the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) conditions. Upon approval of the draft, SEED will present the Manual to all relevant stakeholders across GoKP.