Ecnec approves construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam component

ISLAMABAD: The government Tuesday gave go-ahead for construction of the dam component of Diamer-Bhasha Dam Project.

The power generation plan through Diamer-Basha Dam has been shelved. The gigantic project was approved at a total rationalised cost of Rs474,000 million in a significant meeting of Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) here at the Prime Minister Office and chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

The dam will have a 6.4MAF live storage capacity and installed power capacity of 4,500MW. After completion, the project will increase national water storage capacity from 38 days to 45 days and will enhance life span on downstream reservoirs including Tarbela Dam. The Ecnec approved revision of Gwadar Lasbela Livelihoods Support Project at a total rationalised cost of Rs2,998.10 million. He project aims at poverty reduction in Gwadar and Lasbella districts of Balochistan. The project comprises of major initiatives including community development, fisheries development and rural infrastructure improvement.

Evacuation of power from 1,320MW RLNG power plant near Trimmu, Jhang was approved at a total rationalised cost of Rs4,231.83 million. Revision of the federal programme under ‘Access to Justice Programme’ was accorded approval at a total rationalized cost of Rs4,711.981 million. The ongoing project aims at implementing legislative, judicial, police and administrative reforms with construction of required physical infrastructure including office buildings.

The Ecnec approved replacement of old and obsolete Signal Gear from Lodhran-Multan-Khanewal-Shahdara Bagh Main Line Section of Pakistan Railways (revised) at a total cost of Rs18,346.60 million. The scope of work of this project also includes re-modelling of Yousafwala Railway Station and up-gradation of 24 unmanned railway level crossings into manned level crossings.