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Ecnec approves Rs167 billion worth of projects

By our correspondents
February 08, 2018

ISLAMABAD: Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved various social and economic projects worth at least Rs167 billion on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi headed the Ecnec meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The council approved enhancing Punjab’s public private partnership (PPP) project at a cost of Rs23.479 billion.

“The program will provide direct financial support towards viability gap fund, project development fund and capacity building besides providing adequate financial resources to government departments for project identification, transaction execution and development of sustainable PPP projects,” a government statement said.

The meeting also approved establishment of combined effluent treatment plants for industrial areas of Karachi, including laying of interceptors sewers at an estimated cost of Rs11.799 billion.

It was decided that the federal government’s share would be funded through public sector development program.

The Ecnec approved greater Karachi sewerage plan (S-III) at a cost of Rs36.117 billion.

“The meeting emphasised upon the need for effective monitoring of the project implementation so as to ensure interrupted and smooth implementation of the project,” the statement said.

The meeting approved extension in completion date for National Electronics Complex of Pakistan (Phase-I) Nescom Islamabad.

About projects related to water resources, the meeting approved construction of Jalalpur irrigation canal at a cost of Rs32.721 billion and construction of Papin dam project at a rationalised cost of Rs5.308 billion.

Projects for rehabilitation of assets damaged as a result of riots of 27 and 28 December 2007 and during the 2010 floods were also approved at a cost of Rs10.461 billion and Rs9.597 billion, respectively.

Ecnec also accorded approval to the project of scaling up of glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF-II risk reduction in northern Pakistan) at a cost of Rs3.946 billion.

The meeting also approved Prime Minister’s national health program Phase-II at a total cost of Rs33.630 billion.

“The project is in line with the vision of the present government to expand and extend provision of health services across the country especially to the women and children and to reduce out of pocket expenditures on health by vulnerable segments of the society,” the statement added.

“A representative of the Sindh government expressed his government’s inability to make any financial contribution towards the Prime Minister’s national health program.”

The meeting granted approval to widening and improvement of Ghalani-Mamad Ghat road project in Mohmand Agency in federally administered tribal area.