Publication:
Local Case Studies

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Date
2007-11
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2007-11
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The local case studies for projects in different sectors were prepared to document the bottlenecks which occurred during the various processes involved in the life cycle of infrastructure projects. Identifying such processes allows a better understanding of the capacity constraints in planning, designing, programming, procurement, contract administration, financing and budgeting, execution, and other stages in a project cycle. The case studies clearly demonstrate the presence of deep rooted systematic problems related to: (1) inadequate client capacity to plan, procure, program, administer, and manage projects; (2) imbalanced conditions of contracts; (3) flawed procurement procedures (pre-qualification, bid evaluation, negotiations, and re-negotiations with the lowest bidder) causing significant delays; (4) mismatched project funding needs and actual availability of funds; (5) commencement of projects without ensuring that required funds are in place; (6) delay in making running payments; (7) insufficient time given for detailed design and variations in contract due to inadequacies in design; (8) limited capacity of local contractors; and (9) poor international bid response in mega projects related to credibility issues.
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Abidi, Sohail; Mir, Aized H.; Durrani, Amer Z.. 2007. Local Case Studies. © http://hdl.handle.net/10986/19543 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.
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  • Publication
    International Case Studies - The UAE, China, and Malaysia
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    The Pakistan Infrastructure Implementation Capacity Assessment (PIICA) analysis of the cost of materials, construction inputs, and technical services across the region can help in better understanding of the various dimensions of the infrastructure construction industry. Such a study can also help in analyzing common perceptions regarding the existing disparity in cost of doing business, reasons for migration of technical, skilled, and unskilled personnel to regional countries: quality of construction; and other similar issues. The purpose of this analysis is to assess the relative differences in: (i) professional salary structures; (ii) cost of construction inputs across regional countries; and (iii) contractors working (unit) rates. The effectively decreasing charge rates and salary levels over the past decade accentuates the growing trend among professionals towards seeking more lucrative jobs in the overseas market. Pakistan not only has the highest cost of inputs in the region but when compared to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which has the lowest input costs in the region, material input costs are 400 percent higher in Pakistan. When adverse effects of other variables like old, inefficient equipment, systematic weaknesses and inefficiencies, corruption, and transparency issues are also considered, the rates despite seeming to be "competitive" may well, in fact, be unworkable.
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    Focus Group Discussion
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