ECNEC approves 13 schemes worth Rs327b

Majority of projects are related to infrastructure and power

ISLAMABAD:

The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Friday approved 13 mega projects at a cost of Rs326.7 billion. A majority of the schemes were related to infrastructure and power.

Chairing the meeting, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin approved the Dualisation of Lilla Interchange (M-2) project at a cost of Rs12.76 billion.

The scheme envisages construction of two bypasses, bridges over nullahs, culverts and retaining/ breast/ toe walls. The project is expected to be completed in three years.

According to a statement, the government of Punjab will fund the land acquisition cost, horticulture charges and Provincial Revenue Authority tax charges through its own resources.

In addition, the finance minister gave the go-ahead to the Reconstruction of Turbat-Mand Road from M-8 to Iranian Border project. The scheme will be implemented at a cost of Rs10.46 billion and its completion will take two years.

The Construction of Panjgur-Gichak-Awaran Road scheme costing Rs14.68 billion was also approved. The project was given the go-ahead after deleting security cost, land acquisition charges and reduction in design consultancy fee from 1.6% to 1%.

The scheme titled Inter-Provincial Connectivity Economic Corridor through Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK worth Rs19.195 billion was also given the green light.

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The Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan is the sponsoring agency of the project, which is expected to be completed in three years.

Dualisation of Khuzdar-Kuchlak Section of National Highway (N-25) was agreed upon with PC-I cost of Rs81.6 billion.

The road will be constructed in Khuzdar, Surab, Kalat, Mustang, Quetta and Kuchlak districts of Balochistan. The National Highway Authority will be the executing agency.

The meeting approved Construction of Shandoor-Gilgit Road project at a cost of Rs49.95 billion. The scheme will be implemented in Gilgit-Baltistan and executed by the National Highway Authority.

Sindh Early Learning Enhancement through Classroom Transformation project was approved at an estimated cost of Rs27.16 billion. The Sindh School Education and Literacy Department will sponsor the project and it is expected to benefit 12 districts of the province.

The Gish Kaur Storage Dam project was given the go-ahead at a total cost of Rs11.79 billion. The dam will have storage capacity of 0.046 million acre feet (MAF) of water and it will provide irrigation water to 13,800 acres of command area. The project is expected to be completed by 2025.

The Construction of Panjgoor Storage Dam project worth Rs12.87 billion was approved by the meeting. Located on Rakhshan River, the Ministry of Water Resources will sponsor the project.

The meeting approved the Awaran Dam project at a total cost of Rs14.86 billion.

The scheme titled Establishment of University of Applied Engineering and Emerging Technologies (UAEET) won approval at a total cost of Rs16.65 billion.

The Establishment of IT Park in Karachi project worth Rs31.2 billion was also approved by Ecnec. The project will be executed by the Pakistan Software Export Board.

Pak University of Engineering and Emerging Technologies Phase-I got, in principle, approval at a total cost of Rs23.55 billion.