For years, road maintenance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) was a manual, reactive process—expensive, slow, and often driven by urgency rather than strategy. Now, a new system is shifting that dynamic entirely.
On 24 June 2025, the Government of KP, in partnership with ASI’s FCDO-funded Sustainable Energy & Economic Development (SEED) Programme, officially launched Pakistan’s first AI-powered Road Asset Management System (RAMS). Fully developed in-house by local government teams, the system marks a leap forward in using smart technology to manage infrastructure.
RAMS uses artificial intelligence to detect road damage, classify it by type and severity, and calculate a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) that helps determine where—and when—interventions are most needed. This data feeds into a live, GIS-based dashboard that enables the government to plan and prioritise maintenance far more effectively.
“For the first time, we can make evidence-based decisions about road repairs, which means better roads for the public and smarter use of resources,” said a senior official from the KP Highways Department.
“The real value of RAMS lies in how it was developed—by local government teams, tailored to local needs. That’s what gives it staying power. This is a model of innovation that’s not only smart and cost-effective, but also sustainable and scalable,” said Kashmali Khan, Principal Manager – South Asia at ASI.
Key features include:
- Live GIS Asset Inventory: A real-time digital map showing the condition and coverage of roads across the province—making it easier to monitor infrastructure at a glance and spot issues early.
- Pavement and Bridge Management Modules:These modules assess the condition of roads and bridges, helping engineers prioritise maintenance and ensure structural safety over time.
- Integration with HDM-4:The system aligns with the internationally recognised Highway Development and Management Model, enabling the government to benchmark performance and plan investments to global standards.
- Centralised Dashboard: All data feeds into one easy-to-use platform where planners, engineers, and senior decision-makers can track progress and make informed choices based on evidence.
- Annual Maintenance Planning Kit:Using AI-generated insights, this tool helps the government design yearly road maintenance plans that balance need, budget, and long-term value.
By reducing reliance on reactive maintenance and informal decision-making, the system is helping improve transparency and accountability in public spending. It also sets a powerful precedent for other provinces—and even other countries—looking to modernise how roads are managed.
The new system changes how infrastructure decisions get made in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Instead of reacting to problems as they appear, the government can now plan ahead—using real-time data to prioritise repairs, allocate budgets more effectively, and keep roads in better shape for longer. And because the tool was developed by the government’s own team, it’s designed to stay in use—not sit on a shelf once the project ends.
