Exploring the factors contributing to public sector building construction delays and mitigation solutions in Pakistan

Abdul Aleem; Ahmad Riaz; Tehseen Ullah; Farhan Ali

doi:10.59400/be3822

Exploring the factors contributing to public sector building construction delays and mitigation solutions in Pakistan

Abdul Aleem
Department of Architectural Engineering and Design, University of Engineering & Technology Lahore, Lahore 54890, Pakistan
Ahmad Riaz
Department of Architectural Engineering and Design, University of Engineering & Technology Lahore, Lahore 54890, Pakistan
Tehseen Ullah
Department of Architectural Engineering and Design, University of Engineering & Technology Lahore, Lahore 54890, Pakistan
Farhan Ali
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering & Technology Lahore, Lahore 54890, Pakistan

Article ID: 3822

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59400/be3822

Keywords: construction delays, public sector, mitigation solutions, data analysis, expert stakeholders, Pakistan

Abstract

The construction industry worldwide experiences significant project delays, particularly in the public sector of the construction industry. Construction delays have a substantial effect on the economic development of areas and employment opportunities for the local population, particularly in underdeveloped regions like Balochistan, Pakistan. This research examines the most significant and influential factors causing delays in government building construction within Balochistan, Pakistan. The study presents mitigation solutions and strategies proposed by experts using a Delphi technique for the critical and influential delay factors. The questionnaire survey to collect responses from participants consists of 24 delay factors, which are derived from existing literature and experts’ consultation. A satisfactory degree of data reliability was demonstrated by the survey's 78% response rate. Cronbach's alpha and split-half reliability tests were used in SPSS to assess internal consistency. Delay factors were categorized and ranked based on perceived relevance using the Relative Importance Index (RII). Additionally, to provide an alternate prioritizing of delay variables, the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was used with Microsoft Excel and common mathematical formulations. To confirm the stability and robustness of the rankings, a comparison of the RII and TOPSIS results was done. The results establish the groundwork for further studies on building delays and give insightful information for decision-making in the public sector.

Published

2025-12-02

How to Cite

Aleem, A., Riaz, A., Ullah, T., & Ali, F. (2025). Exploring the factors contributing to public sector building construction delays and mitigation solutions in Pakistan. Building Engineering, 3(4). https://doi.org/10.59400/be3822

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Issue

Vol. 3 No. 4 (2025)

Section

Article

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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