ISLAMABAD: Federal Finance Minister, Senator Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) at the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday. At the outset of the meeting, Fateha was offered for the martyrs of the Karachi bus attack with sympathies for the bereaved families, praying for speedy recovery of the injured.With the consent of the House, proposal from the Ministry of National Health Services on the PM’s National Health Insurance Programme at a total cost of Rs9102.489 million was approved. A large number of families from the poorest segments in 23 districts of all the provinces will be covered under this health insurance scheme.An estimated annual premium of Rs2,000 per family has been proposed for secondary care with addition of Rs500 per family annually for priority treatment. Secondary hospitalization component including maternity benefits and daycare admissions will be limited to Rs50,000 per family each year provided within the provincial ADP except Fata, Gilgit, AJK and ICTproposed to be provided through Federal PSDP through the project. The Ministry of National Health Services also extended project up to year 2015 for the Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI), Control of Diarrhea Diseases (CDD) which is to cost Rs26,941.671 million with FEC of Rs14,195.429 million. The project was also approved by Ecnec. It aims at providing prevention against nine diseases (vaccine preventable ones) and will benefit all regions of the country including Fata, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan. Ecnec considered and approved, in principle, two projects proposed by the Ministry of Water and Power for combined cycle power plants of 1,000-1,200MW each at Haveli Bahadur Shah, District Jhang (PC-1) at an estimated cost of Rs90,031.69 million including FEC of Rs76,254.85 million and second at Balloki, District Kasur (PC-1) at an estimated cost of Rs88,054.09 million with FEC of Rs76, 254.85 million. The Ministry of Water and Power will firm up its numbers regarding the projects and would revert to Ecnec. The project for evacuation of power from 1,320MW imported Coal-based Power Plant at Bin Qasim Karachi at a total cost of Rs12,979.56 million including FEC of Rs7,022.32 million proposed by the Ministry of Water and Power was also approved. The project will be implemented in a period of four years by construction of 500kv transmission, 180km line from the proposed power plant to Matiari. Health Department Government of Sindh’s proposal for establishment of Child Health Care Institute, Sukkur, at a total cost of Rs4,808.99 million with FEC of Rs4,646.198 million was also approved by Ecnec. It will be completed in 36 months. “Necessary Facilities of Fresh Water Treatment, Water Supply & Distribution Gwadar”, a project sponsored by CPEC at a total cost of Rs11,204 million was also approved. It is expected to be completed in 36 months. Proposal of Transport Department Government of Punjab for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project at a cost of Rs165.226 billion to be financed through the proposed China EXIM Bank loan was also okayed. The loan will be repaid by the Government of Punjab. Proposal by the Ministry of Communication for construction of Amri Kazi Ahmad bridge over River Indus (between Hyderabad Bypass and Dadu Moro Bridge) connecting N-5 with N-55 at a total cost of Rs7,189.108 million without FEC element was also approved to be borne through federal PSDP. Five projects of Pakistan Railways worth Rs122,944.00 million with FEC of Rs79,121.64 million already approved, in principle, from the Ecnec on Wednesday received final go-ahead. The entire cost will be borne by the railways authorities from the envelope for the next financial year. NNI adds: Meanwhile, Federal Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar said that the government continued to focus on economic revival and needed to make investment in energy, infrastructure and social protection. The results of the measures taken by the new government were already conspicuous, Senator Dar stated in a meeting with Wencai Zhang, vice president of ADB, who is on his second visit to Pakistan. The federal minister highlighted the importance Pakistan placed on its partnership with the ADB and spoke of the expectations of continued support from the important development partner. Structural reforms were on track and economic growth had soared. “In order to maintain the momentum, the government would need enhanced support from the development partners,” he added. The minister thanked Wencai for resuming policy lending to the tune of $1.2 billion for energy sector and SOE reforms. He lauded the ADB’s efforts for Pakistan Infrastructure Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Fund to be established to respond to natural disasters and enhance the country’s resilience to the natural calamities. The Government of Pakistan had requested the ADB to become trustee of the Fund.Senator Dar thanked ADB for indicative support of $218 million for Flood 2014 Emergency Reconstruction Project in Punjab and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. He appreciated the ADB’s assistance for Highway Network Development Project in Balochistan to the tune of $195 million. The project would enhance connectivity and upgrade infrastructure to boost economic growth and development. On the occasion, the minister urged early processing of $200 million assistance under Improvement of Border Services Project and the lead role of ADB in coordinating and facilitating the TAPI negotiations. He informed Wencai that Diamer-Bhasha Dam was a project of national importance as it would considerably change the energy mix, produce affordable electricity and facilitate water storage. He sought enhanced support of ADB in this regard. On the occasion, Wencai appreciated the remarkable economic turnaround that Pakistan had achieved and also noted that Pakistan had received enhanced ratings by international rating agencies. He felicitated the federal minister on successful conclusion of the 7th IMF review. He said ADB, since 1968, had undertaken projects worth $26 billion and would like to contribute to sectors like energy, agriculture, rural development and social spheres. Wencai said that the successful IMF Review would strengthen confidence of international financial institutions in Pakistan. “Pakistan has started a new journey towards macroeconomic stability and development,” he stated. He said that the ADB had committed to contribute towards Diamer-Bhasha Dam in the past and would be keen to look into new avenues to invest for the betterment of energy and infrastructure projects. He said, “We have been planning to devise strategies that synchronize with the government’s measures to complete projects that are listed on Pakistan government’s priority list.” He also said that ADB would like to contribute towards Pakistan’s capacity to cope with natural disasters.
