Over Rs97b allocated for various projects in G-B
An allocation of Rs50 million has been made for another 30MW hydro power project in Ghowari.
For the construction of a 26MW hydropower project at Shaghartang in Baltistan, Rs100 million has been earmarked. DESIGN-FAIZAN DAWOOD/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The government has made a total allocation of more than Rs97 billion for various development and non-development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) under the Public Sector Development Programme for the financial year 2014-15.
Power projects
According to budget documents, Rs9.23 billion has been earmarked for Gilgit-Baltistan under the Kashmir Affairs and G-B Division (KAGBD).
For the construction of a 26MW hydropower project at Shaghartang in Baltistan, Rs100 million has been earmarked. The project was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on November 11, 2011 and was to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs4.8 billion.
An allocation of Rs50 million has been made for another 30MW hydro power project in Ghowari on Shyoke River in Ganche district of Baltistan. The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs7.79 billion and so far Rs40 million has been spent on the project.
A total of Rs800 million has been set aside for the construction of 30MW Naltar-V and III units near Gilgit. The total cost of the two units is estimated to be Rs5.23 billion.
Similarly, Rs30 million has been earmarked for the construction of a 4MW power project at Thak Nallah in Chilas. The project was approved by the ECNEC on August 16, 2012.
An amount of Rs50 million has been allocated for the establishment of regional grid station in GB. The total cost of the project is Rs5 billion.
Infrastructure
Under the Kashmir Affairs Division, allocations have been made for several new projects.
An allocation of Rs300 million has been made for the completion of a 66-kilometre-long road between Jhalkad in Kohistan and Chilas. The project was approved by the ECNEC on February 6, 2008. But the delay in its completion has escalated the total cost to almost Rs5 billion.
An amount of Rs200 million has been allocated for the construction of Mansehra-Naran-Jhalkad road. The project was approved on March 25, 1999 and was to be completed at an estimated cost of Rs3,820.975. However, by June 30, 2014 the cost escalated to Rs4,976.669 million and it remains incomplete.
The government has allocated an additional Rs4.2 billion for the realignment of the Karakoram Highway (KKH)and the barrier lake at Attabad, Hunza. The project includes the reconstruction of the 17 kilometres (km) of KKH which was submerged in water after a landslide blocked Hunza River in 2010. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs26.48 billion with Rs23.55 billion to be provided by Chinese banks.
The government has earmarked another Rs5.2 billion for the rehabilitation, improvement and widening of KKH from Raikot in Diamer district to Khunjerab in Gojal in G-B. The project was approved by the ECNEC on November 12, 2007.
Pak-China corridor
For the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, an amount of Rs49 billion has been set aside in the current budget. Of the total amount, Rs4.5 billion has been allocated for the construction of 460km of the KKH from Raikot in Diamer district to Havellian in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to Islamabad.
New schemes
An amount of Rs10 million has been allocated for the feasibility study of a tunnel at Babusar top. The project costing Rs500 million has not yet been approved by the ECNEC. For the improvement and widening of 167km Jaglot-Skardu road, Rs50 million has been earmarked for the financial year 2014-15.
HEC
Under the Higher Education Commission (HEC) project, a revised budget of Rs14.535 million has been earmarked for the construction of the Karakoram International University’s (KIU) main campus in Gilgit. The project was approved on November 6, 2008 by the ECNEC.
Under a new scheme for the establishment of an engineering faculty on the KIU campuses in Gilgit and Skardu, an amount of Rs10 million has been allocated. The project, which is yet to be approved ECNEC, will cost Rs630 million.
Information, broadcasting and national heritage division
For the construction of rebroadcast stations at Aliabad/Karimabad, Hunza, Astore, Chilas, Gahkuch, Jaglot and Khaplu, a total of Rs49.682 million has been allocated in the current budget under the Information Broadcasting and National Heritage Ministry.
Interior Division
An allocation of Rs17.03 million has been made for the construction of an Army Command and Control Network for G-B Scouts and 112 Wing at Skardu. A total of Rs13.522 million has been allocated for the construction of a playground, mosque, etc for G-B Scouts and 112 Wing at Skardu. Additionally, Rs24.320 million has been allocated for the acquisition of land for the construction of Force Headquarters (HQ) for G-B Scouts and 112 Wing at Skardu.
Rs25 million have been assigned for the construction of non-residential buildings and other facilities for HQ for G-B Scouts and 113 Wing at Gilgit.
Rs10.424 million has been earmarked for the construction of an FIA building at Khunjerab Pass, Sust (Phase-II). In addition, a total of Rs31.518 million has been allocated for the construction of a hospital building for G-B Scouts Garrison at Minawar.
Under the inter-provincial coordination division, for two projects including the laying of a synthetic hockey turf at Gilgit and the improvement of the Naltar ski slope, a total of Rs40 million has been allocated under the current budget.
Under the Planning Development and Reforms Division, Rs2 billion has been set aside for G-B development.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 9th, 2014.
The government has made a total allocation of more than Rs97 billion for various development and non-development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) under the Public Sector Development Programme for the financial year 2014-15.
Power projects
According to budget documents, Rs9.23 billion has been earmarked for Gilgit-Baltistan under the Kashmir Affairs and G-B Division (KAGBD).
For the construction of a 26MW hydropower project at Shaghartang in Baltistan, Rs100 million has been earmarked. The project was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on November 11, 2011 and was to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs4.8 billion.
An allocation of Rs50 million has been made for another 30MW hydro power project in Ghowari on Shyoke River in Ganche district of Baltistan. The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs7.79 billion and so far Rs40 million has been spent on the project.
A total of Rs800 million has been set aside for the construction of 30MW Naltar-V and III units near Gilgit. The total cost of the two units is estimated to be Rs5.23 billion.
Similarly, Rs30 million has been earmarked for the construction of a 4MW power project at Thak Nallah in Chilas. The project was approved by the ECNEC on August 16, 2012.
An amount of Rs50 million has been allocated for the establishment of regional grid station in GB. The total cost of the project is Rs5 billion.
Infrastructure
Under the Kashmir Affairs Division, allocations have been made for several new projects.
An allocation of Rs300 million has been made for the completion of a 66-kilometre-long road between Jhalkad in Kohistan and Chilas. The project was approved by the ECNEC on February 6, 2008. But the delay in its completion has escalated the total cost to almost Rs5 billion.
An amount of Rs200 million has been allocated for the construction of Mansehra-Naran-Jhalkad road. The project was approved on March 25, 1999 and was to be completed at an estimated cost of Rs3,820.975. However, by June 30, 2014 the cost escalated to Rs4,976.669 million and it remains incomplete.
The government has allocated an additional Rs4.2 billion for the realignment of the Karakoram Highway (KKH)and the barrier lake at Attabad, Hunza. The project includes the reconstruction of the 17 kilometres (km) of KKH which was submerged in water after a landslide blocked Hunza River in 2010. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs26.48 billion with Rs23.55 billion to be provided by Chinese banks.
The government has earmarked another Rs5.2 billion for the rehabilitation, improvement and widening of KKH from Raikot in Diamer district to Khunjerab in Gojal in G-B. The project was approved by the ECNEC on November 12, 2007.
Pak-China corridor
For the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, an amount of Rs49 billion has been set aside in the current budget. Of the total amount, Rs4.5 billion has been allocated for the construction of 460km of the KKH from Raikot in Diamer district to Havellian in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to Islamabad.
New schemes
An amount of Rs10 million has been allocated for the feasibility study of a tunnel at Babusar top. The project costing Rs500 million has not yet been approved by the ECNEC. For the improvement and widening of 167km Jaglot-Skardu road, Rs50 million has been earmarked for the financial year 2014-15.
HEC
Under the Higher Education Commission (HEC) project, a revised budget of Rs14.535 million has been earmarked for the construction of the Karakoram International University’s (KIU) main campus in Gilgit. The project was approved on November 6, 2008 by the ECNEC.
Under a new scheme for the establishment of an engineering faculty on the KIU campuses in Gilgit and Skardu, an amount of Rs10 million has been allocated. The project, which is yet to be approved ECNEC, will cost Rs630 million.
Information, broadcasting and national heritage division
For the construction of rebroadcast stations at Aliabad/Karimabad, Hunza, Astore, Chilas, Gahkuch, Jaglot and Khaplu, a total of Rs49.682 million has been allocated in the current budget under the Information Broadcasting and National Heritage Ministry.
Interior Division
An allocation of Rs17.03 million has been made for the construction of an Army Command and Control Network for G-B Scouts and 112 Wing at Skardu. A total of Rs13.522 million has been allocated for the construction of a playground, mosque, etc for G-B Scouts and 112 Wing at Skardu. Additionally, Rs24.320 million has been allocated for the acquisition of land for the construction of Force Headquarters (HQ) for G-B Scouts and 112 Wing at Skardu.
Rs25 million have been assigned for the construction of non-residential buildings and other facilities for HQ for G-B Scouts and 113 Wing at Gilgit.
Rs10.424 million has been earmarked for the construction of an FIA building at Khunjerab Pass, Sust (Phase-II). In addition, a total of Rs31.518 million has been allocated for the construction of a hospital building for G-B Scouts Garrison at Minawar.
Under the inter-provincial coordination division, for two projects including the laying of a synthetic hockey turf at Gilgit and the improvement of the Naltar ski slope, a total of Rs40 million has been allocated under the current budget.
Under the Planning Development and Reforms Division, Rs2 billion has been set aside for G-B development.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 9th, 2014.