Projects worth Rs 775 billion approved by Ecnec

The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved 8 projects of over Rs775 billion including the 4th revised PC-I of Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower projects with an updated cost of Rs506 billion.
A meeting of the Ecnec chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday approved the 4th revised PC-1 of Neelum-Jhelum Hydroelectric Project at an updated cost of Rs506.808 billion. Sources said that fourth PC-I is submitted to the government by contractor on the completion of the project.
The Ecnec also approved 220KV Mastung Substation along with 220KV Sibi-Mastung-Quetta-Loralai Double Circuit Transmission Lines at a cost of Rs14.155 billion and approved modified PC-II for purchase of land for Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) in Islamabad at a cost of Rs3.519 billion.
The meeting also approved phase-III of Overseas Scholarship Scheme for 2,000 doctorates (PhD) in selected fields at a cost of Rs22.214 billion while in social sector, a project for the establishment of Centre of Neuroscience at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) was approved at a cost of Rs7.284 billion.
The Ecnec approved Devolved Vertical Programs in Health Sector in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan at a cost of Rs131.786 billion. These programs include National Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health Program, National Program for Family Planning and Primary Healthcare, National Tuberculosis Control, PM's Program for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis, Rollback Malaria Program, National Program for Prevention and Control of Avian, Pandemic Influenza and Blindness.
The Phase- II of Sindh Barrages Improvement Project was also approved by the Ecnec at a cost of Rs16.66 billion which involves rehabilitation and modernization of the Sukkar Barrage. The meeting approved acquisition of land for Railway Corridor from Sea Port KM: 5.25 to KM: 9.00 and Railway Operational land from KM: 12.00 to KM: 14:00 at Gwadar.
The second revised PC-1 for construction of Drawat Dam project at a revised capital cost of Rs11.767 billion was also approved by Ecnec as well as revision in cost of construction of 184 km long Faisalabad-Khanewal Motorway (M-4) project at updated cost of Rs60.823 billion.