ROADS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: AN ANALYSIS OF URBAN TRANSPORT POLICIES OF NEW ZEALAND AND PAKISTAN Babar Chohan , Muhammad Imran , Christine Cheyne ABSTRACT Transport studies suggest that investments in urban roads have been justified in terms of easing congestion, saving time and energy, increasing safety, improving social and environmental outcomes and enhancing economic development of a city. Investments in urban roads may have many advantages as they may expand services and improve mobility and, if sustained over time, may contribute to the economic development. However, critics argue that continuous investments in urban roads result in additional traffic and ultimately increase congestion and parking problems which have reverse development impacts. This paper aims to identify the policy objectives and key arguments regarding roads investments in New Zealand and Pakistan. Transport policy documents at national, regional or provincial and local levels, from both the countries, have been critically assessed utilising deep policy analysis and a ‘compare and contrast approach’. Empirical policy objectives behind roads investments in Lahore, Pakistan, and Wellington, New Zealand, have been analysed. The purpose of such a comparison is to develop understanding about the comparative transport policy issues in developed and developing countries. The paper investigates whether the factors linking transport investment with economic development have been completely met or not in the transport policies of two countries. The paper concludes by questioning the role of power-dynamics and interest groups in formulating transport policies in New Zealand and Pakistan. KEY WORDS: Roads, policy, transport, economic development