Degree

Master of Business Administration Executive

Faculty / School

School of Business Studies (SBS)

Year of Award

2026

Advisor/Supervisor

Dr. Rameez Khalid, Associate Professor, Department of Management

Project Type

MBA Executive Research Project

Access Type

Restricted Access

Keywords

Public Sector Project Risk Management; Stakeholder Management; Project Governance & Bureaucracy; EPC Project Challenges; Infrastructure Project Risk; Railway Project Management; PMBOK-based Analysis

Executive Summary

This Capstone Project examines the issue of persistent delays in public sector infrastructure projects in Pakistan through an in-depth case study of the Thar Rail Connectivity Project (TRCP). The TRCP a strategically significant initiative jointly undertaken by the Federal Government of Pakistan (through Pakistan Railways) and the Government of Sindh (through Energy Department) under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and Annual Development Programme (ADP). The project seeks to establish a vital rail link between the Thar Coal Mines and the existing national railway network, initially the coal shall be transported to fulfill coal requirement of Lucky Power Plant at Port Qasim and shall ultimately serve as a common coal facility for future requirement. The delays in timely completion of project is a very critical issue for public sector Organizations or SOEs (State Owned Organizations) like Pakistan Railways. Due to delays the envisaged economic and financial benefits may are potential revenues are lost as envisaged at the project approval stage, resulting in considerable wastage of finances and future business. The study recognizes that project delays in state-owned enterprises often stem not only from technical challenges but from managerial, procedural, and institutional complexities that are deeply embedded within the system. In that context, the Thar Rail Connectivity Project serves as a representative case, especially for EPC (Engineering Procurement and Construction) projects, through which broader structural and governance issues can be examined. The primary objective of the qualitative case-based study is to identify the top risks and suggest workable recommendations / solution to improve the progress of Thar Rail connectivity project and avoid anomalies in similar future projects of Pakistan Railways. To explore this, a qualitative, case-based study was employed. Primary data was collected through semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders from across public and private sectors (spanning Pakistan Railways, WAPDA, NHA, NESPAK, FWO, Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company, Lucky Power, and the Energy Department, Government of Sindh). These interviews provided firsthand perspectives on administrative, procedural, and operational dynamics influencing project delivery. Secondary research included an extensive review of project documents, feasibility reports, PC-1s, progress updates, and relevant academic literature on project management, delay factors, and institutional performance in public sector organizations. x Collected data was analysed using a thematic analysis, guided by the ten Knowledge Areas of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) framework. The Study focused on understanding the top risk / root cause posing the Public Sector projects by studying the Thar Rail Connectivity Project, the mother of all risks / delay factors is determined as poor Stakeholder engagement / management at almost every phase of the Project lifecycle. Keeping in view of the strategic nature of the project workable recommendations / solutions to improve the progress of Thar Rail Connectivity Project has been made besides workable solutions to avoid anomalies in similar future project of Pakistan Railways have been made, to the extent of Pakistan Railways.

Pages

x, 99

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