COMPARATIVE STUDY ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT BETWEEN RESTIVE REGIONS OF PAKISTAN AND REMAINING PART OF COUNTRY

Abstract

Huge gap exists in infrastructure development between restive regions of Pakistan like Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Provincially Administrative Tribal Areas (FATA/ PATA) / hinterland of Baluchistan and remaining part of Pakistan. Government realized the importance of this under development in the aftermath of 9/11 and consequent unrest and trouble. Construction projects unleashed efforts to bring restive regions in line with rest of country. Project Managers running construction works in these areas face numerous challenges in the execution and decision-making. The important concerns include overstretched logistic support, insecure operating environment, difficult terrain, dearth of previously existing infrastructure, centuries old traditional cultural underpinnings, non-availability of skilled manpower / plant and machinery, non-acceptability of allied contractors, and larger operating distances of sites from base camps. The paper identifies dynamics and variables in order of preference using multi-variant analysis for low productivity in restive regions. The author uses primary dataset and seeks feedback from the respondents through a comprehensive questionnaire containing twenty-six questions. Comparing circumstances and outcome of construction projects with remaining part of the country, the study finds that the cost of work in FATA / PATA and restive regions of Baluchistan is substantially high due to multiple factors and therefore recommendations a construction model for creating ideal circumstances for expediting pace of development and assuring timely completion of projects. The author adopts methodology of quantitative analysis using SPSS for drawing important conclusion from research.