ECNEC approves projects worth over Rs95bn

A meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Thursday approved over Rs95 billion projects for water, irrigation, transport, and other sectors.
The ECNEC meeting chaired by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh considered and approved the "Toiwar/Batozai Storage Dam Project District Killa Saifullah, Balochistan" at the 2nd revised cost of Rs4,905.667 million.
The project would be executed by the Irrigation Department, Government of Balochistan, which would provide storage of 95,000 acre feet of water 16,750 acres of land will be brought under cultivation.
Prevention from flood damages and improvement of socio-economic conditions are other benefits of the project.
The ECNEC directed the Government of Balochistan to ensure the completion of the project within revised approved scope and cost.
The Naulong Dam Project- Updated 2nd Revised PC-I at a total cost of Rs28,465 million, was given approval in principle to enable the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) to start negotiation with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for finalising details of project financing.
The meeting also directed to constitute a committee under the Minister for EAD, Minister for Planning Development and Reforms, Deputy Chairman of Privatization Commission, representative from the Ministry of Water and Power, and the Government of Balochistan to discuss the issues related with preparation of second revised PC-I of the project.
The committee will give its input within two weeks time.
The ECNEC also approved operationalisation of Green Line BRTS and installation of integrated Intelligent Transport System Equipment-updated Modified PC-I at the total cost of Rs10,956.16 million with Rs53,16.68 million as Foreign Exchange Component (FEC).
The meeting also considered the National Electronic Complex of Pakistan, Phase 1 in H-9/1, Islamabad, at a revised total cost of Rs16,081.617 million.
Out of this total budgeted cost Rs13,371.729 million has been provided by China as loan and grant.
The project will help in technology acquisition for achievement of self-reliance in research, design and manufacturing in the following fields; (i) information and communication assurance for e-governance; (ii) early warning systems for disaster management; (iii) electronic measures for security of national assets; (iv) electronic exploration of natural resources at land/sea; (v) designing and fabrication of integrated circuits and systems on chip, and (vi) communication, displays, automation and medical systems.
It is expected that the project shall be completed by June 2022.
The National Program for enhancing the command area in barani areas of Pakistan was also approved at a total cost of Rs25,345.672 million.
The project scope includes construction of 2,664 farm ponds for storing rainwater from various sources and installation of solar pumping systems on farm ponds for operation of high efficiency of irrigation systems.
Development of 4,156 dug wells to promote irrigated agriculture.
Development/improvement of 2,432 watercourses carrying water from various sources for enhancing water conveyance efficiency at farm-level and building other beneficial infrastructures and provision of useful equipment for farm land development.
Dualization and Improvement of Mandra-Chakwal Road Project (2nd Revised) at districts Rawalpindi and Chakwal at total cost of Rs11,892.639 million was also approved.
The project will be completed from federal Public-Sector Development Programme (PSDP).