Ecnec nods Rs98bln to six uplift projects

ISLAMABAD: Government on Thursday approved staggering Rs98 billion worth of six infrastructure development projects.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) took the decision during a meeting presided over by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Hafeez Shaikh.

Ecnec approved the Toiwar/Batozai storage dam project in Balochistan at the second revised cost of Rs4.9 billion. The provincial irrigation department would execute the project, which would provide storage of 95,000 acre feet of water and bring 16,750 acres of land under cultivation. Prevention from flood damages and improvement of socioeconomic conditions are other benefits of the project. The committee directed the provincial administration to ensure the completion of the project within revised approved scope and cost.

Ecnec approved Rs28.4 billion for the Naulong dam project to enable economic affairs division to start negotiation with Asian Development Bank for finalising details of project financing. A committee was constituted to discuss the issues related with preparation of second revised PC-I of the project. The committee would give its input within two weeks.

Ecnec further approved Rs10.9 billion for operationalisation of green line bus rapid transit system and installation of integrated intelligent transport system equipment. Islamabad national electronic complex project was approved at a revised total cost of Rs16 billion. Of the total budgeted cost, Rs13.3 billion has been provided by China as loan and grant.

The project would help in technology acquisition for achievement of self-reliance in research, design and manufacturing in the information and communication assurance for e-governance, early warning systems for disaster management, electronic measures for security of national assets, electronic exploration of natural resources at land/ sea, designing and fabrication of integrated circuits and systems on chip, communication, displays, automation and medical systems. The project is expected to be completed by June 2022.

National program for enhancing the command area in barani areas was approved at a total cost of Rs25.3 billion.