Ecnec approves Rs201 bn projects

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Monday approved seven projects worth Rs201 billion pertaining to construction of roads, tunnels, water supply and procurement of 75 diesel electric locomotives.

The committee that met here with Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar in the chair approved Balochistan Integrated Water Resource Management and Development Project (BIWRMDP) with an updated cost of Rs22.165 billion. 

This project was highly important as it is located on Nari and Porali River Basins covering almost one fourth of the Balochistan. The project will provide multiple benefits to the people. 

It will provide clean drinking water facility, reduce flood risk, reduce erosion, encourage more firewood and more fodder for livestock and save endangered mangroves and juniper forests and enhance agriculture productivity.

The project was found essential for the water sector of Balochistan, as it aims at vital requirement like hydro-meteorological installations, flood protection works and institutional capacity building. 

The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) will contribute $200 million to the project and will be completed in six years.

The committee also approved the Lowari Road Tunnel and Access Road Project at the revised cost of Rs26.855 billion. The project is expected to complete by October 2017. 

According to the Ministry of Finance, the revision of cost is the result of increase in the scope of work of the project which includes increase in the width of the tunnel from six meters to 7.5 meters with clear height of five meters. 

The scope of work also includes provision of ventilation and electrical works for road tunnel, construction of platforms, operational buildings along with allied facilities, installations and equipment for snow clearing. 

The cost of the project also includes foreign exchange component (FEC) of Rs5.87 billion. The National Highway Authority (NHA) will be the executing authority for the project.

Equally important and related to Lowari Tunnel project, “Improvement and widening of N-45 (130.22 KM) Project” also got approval at the revised cost of Rs17.423 billion. 

The project is located at Chakdara, Timergara, Akhagram, Dir Kalkatak, Chitral. Both Lowari Tunnel project and N-45 project will prove to be a strategic asset for Pakistan. 

These will go a long way towards area development and providing better facilities to the public.

Another approved project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was construction of Burhan-Havelian Expressway (E-35) 59.1 km (Revised) at the revised PC cost of Rs34.165 billion.

The project is expected to be completed by September 2017. The cost of the project is revised due to addition of third lane on either side of the already ongoing project for construction of 59.1 km limited access controlled four lane divided facility/motorway with service roads on either side along a new alignment with allied structures/ facilities. 

The revised project is being funded through Asian ADB loan of $200 million. The ADB also agreed to provide remaining loan amount for additional scope of work.