Building a Vision: Top 10 Major Projects of Imran Khan’s Era

During his tenure as Prime Minister of Pakistan (2018–2022), Imran Khan focused on reshaping governance, expanding social safety nets, driving economic modernization, and promoting environmental sustainability. Moving away from a sole reliance on traditional brick-and-mortar infrastructure, his administration introduced a blend of human development initiatives, digital financial platforms, and environmental megaprojects.

These ten high-profile projects defined the policy roadmap of his government.

1. The Ehsaas Program & Universal Healthcare (Sehat Sahulat Card)

Often described as the centerpiece of the administration’s social welfare vision, the Ehsaas Program brought together dozens of poverty-alleviation initiatives under a single umbrella.

• Universal Health Coverage: Through the Sehat Sahulat Card, millions of families in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab gained access to free medical treatment—up to 1 million PKR per family annually—at both public and empaneled private hospitals.

• Targeted Cash Transfers: Sub-programs like Ehsaas Kafalat provided direct financial assistance to low-income households, particularly targeting women.

• Global Recognition: Recognized internationally during the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergency cash distribution component provided rapid financial relief to vulnerable populations during lockdowns.

2. 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Project

Expanding on an earlier regional initiative launched in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami became one of the largest ecological reforestation drives in South Asia.

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                  10 BILLION TREE TSUNAMI FRAMEWORK                      |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                                         |
|  • Mass Afforestation  ---> Planting native species nationwide          |
|  • Green Jobs          ---> Employing daily-wage workers (Green Commando)|
|  • Protected Areas     ---> Expanding national parks and wetlands       |
|                                                                         |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

• Environmental Impact: Aimed at restoring degraded forests, combating desertification, and protecting biodiversity against extreme climate risks.

• Economic Support: During pandemic-related disruptions, the project served as a green jobs generator, employing thousands of rural workers to plant saplings and maintain nurseries.

3. Roshan Digital Account (RDA) & Financial Reforms

To build trust and draw global investment from the non-resident diaspora, the government launched the Roshan Digital Account alongside the State Bank of Pakistan.

• Direct Banking Access: Allowed overseas Pakistanis to open digital bank accounts remotely without visiting a physical branch in Pakistan.

• Investment Avenues: Introduced structured investment vehicles like Naya Pakistan Certificates (NPCs), enabling non-residents to invest directly in government bonds, local stock markets, and real estate.

• Remittance Boost: The initiative funneled billions of dollars into official banking channels, providing crucial support to the foreign exchange reserves.

4. Construction of Major Hydropower Dams (Mohmand & Diamer-Bhasha)

Recognizing Pakistan’s long-term water and power security needs, the administration prioritized water storage and clean energy generation.

• Mohmand Dam: Work was accelerated on this multipurpose dam on the Swat River to generate hydro-energy, control flooding, and supply clean drinking water to Peshawar.

• Diamer-Bhasha Dam: Construction on the massive 272-meter-high concrete-filled dam officially kicked off in mid-2020 on the Indus River.

• Long-Term Goals: Designed to provide over 4,500 MW of clean electricity and add millions of acre-feet of water storage capacity to protect agricultural needs.

5. The Kartarpur Corridor

In a major diplomatic and religious tourism milestone, the government constructed and opened the Kartarpur Corridor in November 2019.

Significance:

• Visa-Free Access: Connected Dera Baba Nanak in India directly to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan, allowing Sikh pilgrims visa-free access to one of their holiest sites.

• Rapid Construction: Completed within a year, the project included a modern complex, immigration facilities, and a bridge across the Ravi River.

• Soft Power: Earned global appreciation as an initiative promoting interfaith harmony and peace diplomacy in South Asia.

6. Naya Pakistan Housing Program (NPHP)

To tackle a chronic shortage of affordable housing across the country, the Naya Pakistan Housing Program was introduced to help low- and middle-income families purchase homes.

• Subsidized Mortgages: Partnered with commercial banks to offer low-interest rate markup subsidies (Mera Pakistan Mera Ghar scheme) for first-time buyers.

• Private-Public Partnerships: Encouraged private developers to construct low-cost housing units with tax breaks and streamlined regulatory approvals.

• Industry Stimulus: Acted as an engine for the construction sector, stimulating over 40 allied industries like cement, steel, and labor.

7. Pakistan Citizen Portal (PCP)

Leveraging technology to enforce civic accountability, the government launched the Pakistan Citizen Portal, an e-governance platform designed to connect citizens directly with public officials.

8. Single National Curriculum (SNC)

In an effort to reduce educational inequality and bridge social divides, the government introduced the Single National Curriculum (SNC).

• Uniform Standards: Designed a unified curriculum framework across three distinct sectors: public schools, private institutions, and religious seminaries (Madaris).

• Phased Rollout: Initiated at the primary level (Grades 1–5) to ensure that all children, regardless of socio-economic background, studied identical core subjects and learning outcomes.

• Core Objective: Standardize educational opportunities across the nation and eliminate multi-tiered schooling disparities.

9. Kamyab Jawan Program

To address youth unemployment and foster entrepreneurship, the government rolled out the Kamyab Jawan Program.

• Youth Business Loans: Provided subsidized, low-interest micro-loans to aspiring young entrepreneurs to launch start-ups or expand small businesses.

• Skill Development: Included high-tech vocational training programs (Skills for All) focusing on digital skills, software development, coding, and technical trades.

• Empowerment: Focused on economic self-reliance rather than reliance on public sector job expansion alone.

10. Tourism Infrastructure & Visa Policy Reforms

Aiming to unlock Pakistan’s natural and historic tourism potential, the administration implemented broad reforms to open the country to international visitors.

• E-Visa Platform: Eased rigid entry requirements by introducing an online visa portal and visa-on-arrival for citizens of over 170 countries.

• Northern Area Infrastructure: Upgraded access roads, developed new tourist destinations, and converted historical government rest houses into public accommodations.

• Eco-Tourism Drives: Promoted sustainable tourism models designed to generate local employment across Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Azad Kashmir.