Ecnec approves 7 projects worth over Rs 187 billion

The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) has approved seven projects worth over Rs 187 billion for power, health and communication sectors. A meeting of Ecnec presided over by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday approved the project for construction/installation of "220KV Mirpur Khas Substation along with Associated Transmission Lines (PC-1)" at a rationalised total cost of Rs 3.857 billion including Foreign Exchange Component (FEC) of Rs 1.854 billion.
The Ecnec was informed the project will be completed in two years and will enable meeting the growing power demand of areas including Mirpurkhas, Mir Wah Gorchani, Sultanabad, Kandiari, Sanghar, Shah Pur Chakar, Jam Nawaz, Tando Jam, Samaro and TA Yar under the jurisdiction of Hyderabad Eclectic Supply Company (Hesco). The projects to be financed by Asian Development Bank (ADB) will improve voltage and system reliability, as well as reduction in loadshedding in Sindh.
The meeting also approved a project of 500KV HVAC transmission lines for interconnection of HVDC with HVAC System at Matiari and Lahore at a total rationalised cost of Rs 4.805 billion including FEC of Rs 2.620 billion. The project, which will also be implemented in two years, will result in interconnection of HVDC with HVAC system for facilitating the dispersal of power from the proposed 4,000MW power plants in the southern part of the country.
Another projects considered and approved by the Ecnec was "220KV Dera Ismail Khan - Zhob Double Circuit Transmission Line along with 220KV Zhob Substation" at a rationalised cost of Rs 6.878 billion, including FEC of Rs 3.094 billion, to be financed through ADB.
The project will be completed by June 2018. It envisages installation of new 220KV substation at Zhob along with 220KV Dera Ismail Khan - Zhob transmission line to reduce transmission losses and meet the growing power requirements of Qilla Saifullah, G H Zai, Musafir Pur, Zhob, Mekhtar and Duki under the jurisdiction of QESCO.
The project for "Evacuation of Power from 1320MW imported Coal Based Power Plant at Hub" was approved at an updated total cost of Rs 16,414 billion including FEC of Rs 7.875 billion; subject to the condition that implementation of the project will be starting after achieving financial close of 1,320MW power plant at Hub. The project entails laying of 220km, 500KV double circuit transmission line from Hub Power Plant to 500KV Matiari switching station, and extension at the switching station with two line bays with shunt reactors. The project will be financed through International Financial Institutions.
The Ecnec also considered and approved recommendations regarding the "Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Project in second and fifth circles and new customer information and billing system for the entire company in Lesco" and the "AMI Project in Rawalpindi circle, Taxila Division, B-1 & B11 Customers of Entire Company and new modern billing system for the entire company in IESCO".
These projects have already been approved by Ecnec in July 2016, while on Monday the Ecnec approved the flexible use of technology in these projects depending upon the suitability of the distribution network of the respective DISCOs. The Ecnec also approved Expanded Programme on Immunization Punjab (EPI) for health sector designed for prevention of nine vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs).
The immunization/vaccination services are being delivered through fixed and outreach centres for routine immunization as well as mobile vaccinators for house immunization and special campaigns. The programme has been approved at a total cost of Rs 22.262 billion including FEC of Rs 3.815 billion.
The Ecnec approved the projects titled "Land Acquisition, Affected Properties Compensation and Relocation of Utilities for Construction of Burhan/Hakla to D I Khan Motorway". The project envisages acquisition of 7,496 acres of land (59,969 kanals) for construction of 285 km 4-lanes expressway with a 100m wide Right of Way (RoW), as part of the western route of CPEC.
The Ecnec had already approved the project, in principle, at the rationalised scope and cost of Rs 11.973 billion without FEC subject to verification of the proposed route of the project from the Joint Declaration announced at the eve of the All Parties Conference held on 28 May, 2015.
The project for "construction of Motorway from Burhan/Hakla on M-1 to DI Khan" was also approved by Ecnec. Earlier, project at Rs 110.208 billion was approved in principle continent to verification of the proposed route of the project. On Monday, Ecnec granted final approval to both the projects after it was informed the condition of verification of proposed route has been met in consultation between Federal Committee on CPEC and KP Committee on CPEC.
The Ecnec also considered and approved the project for "Land Acquisition, Affected Properties Compensation and Relocation of Utilities for Construction of 6 - Land Highway from Kala Shah Kaku to Lahore Ring Road (18.3 km) including Bridge over River Ravi (Lahore Eastern Bypass)" at a total rationalised cost of Rs 10,486.45 million with no FEC. The project envisages acquisition of 952 acres of land (7,617 kanals) for construction of 18.3 km long 6 lane dual carriageway with 100m RoW from Kala Shah Kaku interchange to Lahore Ring Road at 500m ahead of Mehmood Booti Junction including construction of a new bridge over River Ravi and other allied structures.