Ecnec approves revised cost of Islamabad Safe City project

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec), in its meeting chaired by Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, here on Wednesday considered and approved the revised cost for the Islamabad Safe City Project and also gave its nod of approval for procurement/ manufacture of railway wagons for coal transportation.

The Ecnec was informed that the Safe City Project of the Ministry of Interior was previously approved without any provision for duties and taxes on the assumption that the same would be waived off by the FBR. The tax exemption was, however, not granted by the FBR as the government is pursuing a policy of discouraging tax exemptions.

The sponsoring ministry, therefore, revised the project to include provision for taxes and duties. It was emphasised that there was no cost increase in any of the physical project component. The meeting after detailed discussions accorded approval for a revised cost of Rs15.865 billion, including Rs4 billion for payment of taxes and duty to the FBR.

The project, which is nearing completion, envisages physical infrastructure and allied facilities to protect citizens and their properties against security threats and acts of terror. The project initially planned to be implemented in the federal capital, will create an effective and adequate security framework by incorporating strategies preventing unauthorised access of vehicles and individuals entering or operating within the capital territory.

It will also strengthen the law enforcement agencies by utilising state-of-the-art technologies including cameras, integration of multiple national databases of vehicles and individuals with centralised control rooms to monitor control situations aimed at prevention of untoward incidents.

The Ecnec also approved the proposal of the Ministry of Railways for procurement/ manufacture of 585 wagons and 20 bogie brake vans for coal transportation (Phase-II) at a total cost of Rs5,861 million. The project will enable Pak Railways to meet the demand for transportation of six million tons of coal from Karachi Port to upcountry for coal-fired power plants.

The finance minister thanked all members for their active participation in meetings of the Ecnec during 2015. He stated that frequent meetings of the committee had been held to ensure that there was no delay in the processing of projects of national importance. He appreciated the keen interest of the members in pushing forward the development agenda of the government.