Govt approves 16 more projects worth Rs212b
Schemes include construction of six maritime vessels
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. PHOTO: REUTERS / FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Amid the growing portfolio of federally-funded schemes, the government has approved 16 more projects costing Rs212 billion, including a project of Ministry of Defence for construction of six maritime vessels.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Friday chaired a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) to approve these projects.
Of the 16 projects, two schemes – including the construction of maritime vessels and prime minister’s laptop scheme – had already been approved. Due to change in their scope, these projects were again brought before the ECNEC for approval.
The ECNEC – the highest project approval authority – endorsed the procurement and construction of six Maritime Patrol Vessels for Pakistan Maritime Security Agency at a revised cost of Rs16.3 billion. Of the six vessels, four are of 600 tons capacity and two 1,500 tons.
The ECNEC also approved manufacturing of 820 high capacity bogie freight wagons and 230 passenger coaches for Pakistan Railways at a cost of Rs31.2 billion.
To address sewerage problems in Karachi, the ECNEC approved a Sindh government project for establishment of Combined Effluent Treatment Plants for industrial areas in Karachi, including laying of interceptor sewers at a total cost of Rs11.8 billion.
The ECNEC also approved four projects related to the power sector transmission costing Rs44 billion. In line with the government’s commitment to overcome the power shortage in the country, special emphasis had been accorded to power projects, according to a handout issued by the PM Office after the ECNEC meeting.
Gwadar Expressway cost capped at $168m
The ECNEC approved construction of new 220 kv Guddu-Sibbi single circuit transmission line for improving the power supply system in south areas at a total rationalised cost of Rs8.4 billion.
A 500 kv Lahore North Substation along with associated transmission lines’ project was also approved at a new cost of Rs20.7 billion.
For evacuation of power from 1,410 MW Terbella 5th Extension Hydro power project, the ECNEC approved the project at a cost of Rs4.14 billion. Another scheme, evacuation of power from 1,224 MW Wind Power project at Jhimpir clusters was approved at a cost of Rs10.8 billion.
Due to growing number of schemes – many of them were initiated on political grounds – they were facing cost overruns. The Public Accounts Committee has been discussing this perennial issue of inclusion of hundreds of more schemes in the portfolio of federally-funded Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) despite severe scarcity of resources.
Pushed by ADB: ECNEC approves Rs47b smart-metering project
The PML-N government has included 429 new schemes in the 2017-18 PSDP despite pendency of 593 ongoing schemes. It requires Rs5.6 trillion to complete work on all the schemes, which is more than the federal government’s total annual budget for the year.
The ECNEC on Friday also approved projects related to social, education, transport and communication; and water resources sectors. It allowed purchase of about 32,000 more laptops by utilising the money saved due to tax exemption granted to PM laptop scheme by the Federal Board of Revenue.
The ECNEC approved the PM’s Laptop Scheme (Phase-III) at a total revised cost of Rs21.4 billion. The prime minister directed the Higher Education Commission to prepare ‘Laptop-for-all Programme’ that shall provide laptops to all eligible students.
The highest project-approving authority also gave a green light to a scheme for Extension of Water Resources for Faisalabad City (Phase-II) at a cost of Rs14.7 billion.
Govt approves $1 billion road projects under CPEC
The ECNEC also approved Punjab Intermediate Cities Improvement Investment Programme in Sahiwal and Sialkot at a cost of Rs26.4 billion
It cleared award of Allama Muhammad Iqbal 3,000 Scholarships to Afghan Students by HEC at a total rationalised cost of Rs7.4 billion. The prime minister directed the HEC to complete the project within three years instead of five - 1000 scholarships a year.
The ECNEC approved rehabilitation and widening of Quetta-Dhadher Section of N-65 (118.322 km) at a cost of Rs7.2 billion. It cleared a project for construction of Chitral – Ayun – Bumborate Road (48 km) at a cost of Rs4.6 billion.
The prime minister directed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to ensure cultural preservation of the Kalash tribe in collaboration with civil society and non-governmental organisations.
The design and tendering assistance and construction of Malakand Tunnel Project was also approved at a price of Rs16.6 billion. The ECNEC approved construction of Garuk Storage Dam in Kharan district of Balochistan at a total rationalised cost of Rs10.5 billion.
Amid the growing portfolio of federally-funded schemes, the government has approved 16 more projects costing Rs212 billion, including a project of Ministry of Defence for construction of six maritime vessels.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Friday chaired a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) to approve these projects.
Of the 16 projects, two schemes – including the construction of maritime vessels and prime minister’s laptop scheme – had already been approved. Due to change in their scope, these projects were again brought before the ECNEC for approval.
The ECNEC – the highest project approval authority – endorsed the procurement and construction of six Maritime Patrol Vessels for Pakistan Maritime Security Agency at a revised cost of Rs16.3 billion. Of the six vessels, four are of 600 tons capacity and two 1,500 tons.
The ECNEC also approved manufacturing of 820 high capacity bogie freight wagons and 230 passenger coaches for Pakistan Railways at a cost of Rs31.2 billion.
To address sewerage problems in Karachi, the ECNEC approved a Sindh government project for establishment of Combined Effluent Treatment Plants for industrial areas in Karachi, including laying of interceptor sewers at a total cost of Rs11.8 billion.
The ECNEC also approved four projects related to the power sector transmission costing Rs44 billion. In line with the government’s commitment to overcome the power shortage in the country, special emphasis had been accorded to power projects, according to a handout issued by the PM Office after the ECNEC meeting.
Gwadar Expressway cost capped at $168m
The ECNEC approved construction of new 220 kv Guddu-Sibbi single circuit transmission line for improving the power supply system in south areas at a total rationalised cost of Rs8.4 billion.
A 500 kv Lahore North Substation along with associated transmission lines’ project was also approved at a new cost of Rs20.7 billion.
For evacuation of power from 1,410 MW Terbella 5th Extension Hydro power project, the ECNEC approved the project at a cost of Rs4.14 billion. Another scheme, evacuation of power from 1,224 MW Wind Power project at Jhimpir clusters was approved at a cost of Rs10.8 billion.
Due to growing number of schemes – many of them were initiated on political grounds – they were facing cost overruns. The Public Accounts Committee has been discussing this perennial issue of inclusion of hundreds of more schemes in the portfolio of federally-funded Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) despite severe scarcity of resources.
Pushed by ADB: ECNEC approves Rs47b smart-metering project
The PML-N government has included 429 new schemes in the 2017-18 PSDP despite pendency of 593 ongoing schemes. It requires Rs5.6 trillion to complete work on all the schemes, which is more than the federal government’s total annual budget for the year.
The ECNEC on Friday also approved projects related to social, education, transport and communication; and water resources sectors. It allowed purchase of about 32,000 more laptops by utilising the money saved due to tax exemption granted to PM laptop scheme by the Federal Board of Revenue.
The ECNEC approved the PM’s Laptop Scheme (Phase-III) at a total revised cost of Rs21.4 billion. The prime minister directed the Higher Education Commission to prepare ‘Laptop-for-all Programme’ that shall provide laptops to all eligible students.
The highest project-approving authority also gave a green light to a scheme for Extension of Water Resources for Faisalabad City (Phase-II) at a cost of Rs14.7 billion.
Govt approves $1 billion road projects under CPEC
The ECNEC also approved Punjab Intermediate Cities Improvement Investment Programme in Sahiwal and Sialkot at a cost of Rs26.4 billion
It cleared award of Allama Muhammad Iqbal 3,000 Scholarships to Afghan Students by HEC at a total rationalised cost of Rs7.4 billion. The prime minister directed the HEC to complete the project within three years instead of five - 1000 scholarships a year.
The ECNEC approved rehabilitation and widening of Quetta-Dhadher Section of N-65 (118.322 km) at a cost of Rs7.2 billion. It cleared a project for construction of Chitral – Ayun – Bumborate Road (48 km) at a cost of Rs4.6 billion.
The prime minister directed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to ensure cultural preservation of the Kalash tribe in collaboration with civil society and non-governmental organisations.
The design and tendering assistance and construction of Malakand Tunnel Project was also approved at a price of Rs16.6 billion. The ECNEC approved construction of Garuk Storage Dam in Kharan district of Balochistan at a total rationalised cost of Rs10.5 billion.