The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) in its meeting chaired by Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Saturday discussed and approved a number of proposals relating to energy, communication and higher education sectors. According to a press release issued here on Saturday, the Ecnec approved the revised PC-I of Neelum Jhelum hydropower project (NJHPP) at a total cost of Rs 404.321 billion.
The Ecnec was apprised that the financial issues of the project were discussed in the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCOE), following which a sub-committee, headed by the finance minister, was constituted to resolve these issues. The sub-committee noted that the existing PC-I of the project had no provision for certain items, including interest during construction. The Committee, therefore, directed the Wapda to prepare a revised PC-I and include all the project-related costs inclusive of IDC, taxes and duties etc. The revised PC-I was accordingly submitted to the CDWP which recommended it to Ecnec for approval. While approving the project, the Committee directed that the NJHPP-related schemes of AJK be implemented at the earliest.
On a proposal of ministry of communications, Ecnec approved the revised PC-I of Sukkur-Multan Section (392 KMs) of Peshawar-Karachi Motorway Project at a total cost of Rs 314,997.280 million. The section covers the areas of districts of Sukkur, Ghotki, Rahimyar Khan, Bahawalpur and Multan in the provinces of Sindh and Punjab. The committee was informed that the project was being implemented on EPC basis and hence there would be no cost escalation during its implementation.
The meeting was informed that despite upward revision of the project cost, a saving of Rs 112bn has still been achieved through deep scrutiny. Ecnec also discussed and approved the revised PC-I for KKH Phase-II (Havelian to Thakot 118.057kms) project at a total cost of Rs 136, 659.60m. The meeting was informed that increase in cost of the project was due to a number of reasons. The proposed scope of work, including high-level bridges and tunnels under poor soil support, required special treatment and needed heavy spending. Further, the area is prone to seismic activities which required additional safety measures. Due to poor strata along the alignment, excessive material was required from far off places which needed haulage roads, resulting in substantial increase in cost of earthwork. The road will be built on Chinese standards applicable to similar terrain. NHA informed the meeting that a saving of Rs 58bn has been achieved in the project cost through a reduction in the bid following technical negotiations.
The meeting also considered and approved the National Highway N-70, Rakhi Gajj-Bewata, East-West Road Project at a revised cost of Rs 22,994.660m. . The road is an important link between Balochistan and southern region of Punjab. The project envisages revamping of a stretch of 32. 651km-long two lane single carriageway of N-70 from Rakhi Gajj to Bewata in the districts of Dera Ghazi Khan and Loaralai. The construction work also includes building of a steel bridge which will be one of its kinds once completed.
Ecnec also considered and approved the Fulbright Scholarship Support Programme (Phase-II), which will be funded mainly by the USAID. The project involves a total funding of Rs 12,567.361m which includes 9,896.548 USAID's grant-in-Aid. Under the programme, 550 Master/M.Phil and 141 Doctoral scholarships will be offered to Pakistani scholars in the US universities in specific disciplines focusing mainly on science & technology. The awardees are selected on merit from all over the country, with preference being given to less developed areas as well as to women. Representatives of HEC informed the meeting that all the scholars under the first phase of the project were returning and performing their duties in their parent institutions.-PR