The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council which met here on Friday with Federal Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in the chair has approved seven projects. The projects that were brought under discussion have already been put in the last meeting of the Central Development Working Party and were duly recommended by the same to the Ecnec, for consideration and approval.
The approved projects are: 26MW Shagarthang Hydropower Project, District Skardu (Revised) (ADB Funding) costing Rs 4843.726 million. Establishment of 48 MW Jagran-II Hydro Electric Power Station (Phase-2), District Neelum in AJ&K (Revised PC-1) (French Loan) costing Rs 6,509.700 million.
220 kV Grid Station at Lalian, at Chiniot, Punjab (ADB-MTFF) (Multi Tranche Financing Facility) costing Rs 1581.47 million. Master Leading to PhD Scholarship Programme (Indigenous and Overseas) for students of Balochistan (An initiative of the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package)-HEC at a cost of Rs 3138.692 million.
Lowari Tunnel and Access Roads Project Modified as a road tunnel costing Rs 18,132.544 million. Doubling of Track from Lodhran to Khanewal via Multan Cantt (Revised) costing Rs 3,678.500 million. Population Welfare Programme 2010-15 (Federal Activity Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Balochistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir) at a cost of Rs 48571.140 million.
The Economic Council also deliberated at length over the Islamabad Safe City Project, which was already approved lastly. In its summary to Ecnec the Ministry of Interior had requested for waiver of Ecnec restriction which had directed that activation of the project would be subject to the outcome of the litigation which is being heard in the Supreme Court.
The meeting also decided to request the Supreme Court to expedite the hearing and give early decision in this regard so that the fate of the project may he finalised in the light of the SC decision. The meeting was also of the view that the operationalisation of the project is subject to the decision of the Supreme Court and directed the Ministry of Interior to keep the loan active with the Chinese Exim Bank for this project.
While deliberating the project "Master Leading to PhD Scholarship Programme (Indigenous and Overseas) for students of Balochistan (An initiative of the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package), the meeting observed that many issues are not clear. In this regard the Finance Minister constituted a committee comprising Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Prime Minister''s Adviser on Agriculture, Representatives of Balochistan Government, Secretary Interior and representatives of HEC. The committee will meet next week. The project is focused on providing opportunities to under privileged candidates of Balochistan, an opportunity for higher education.-PR