ECNEC approves 12 projects worth Rs327bln

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in its meeting on Friday approved 12 development projects worth Rs326.703 billion with instructions to further rationalise the cost of Pak University of Engineering and Emerging Technologies (PUEET).

The meeting was chaired by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Shaukat Tarin at the Cabinet Division, with participation of Minister for Power Hammad Azhar, Adviser to PM on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, and Adviser to PM on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain.

Approved projects included six road development projects, three dam projects, two educational projects, and one IT park project.

ECNEC approved 128km Dualization of Lilla Interchange (M-2) via Pind-Dadan Khan to Jhelum including Bypass (2 number) at a rationalised cost of Rs12.760 billion. The scope of work includes construction of two bypasses, bridges over nullahs, culverts and retaining / breast / toe walls. This project would be completed in three years. ECNEC also directed Punjab government to fund the land acquisition cost, horticulture charges and Provincial Revenue Authority Tax charges through its own resources. Reconstruction of 115km long Turbat-Mand Road from M-8 till Iranian Border-Radeeq was approved at a total rationalised cost of Rs10.461 billion. The project was expected to be completed in two years by Communication Department Balochistan (as a part of South Balochistan Package). The project starts from Gwadar-Ratodero Motorway to Kurumb (Iranian Border) in Balochistan Province.

ECNEC also approved 228km construction of Panjgur-Gichak-Awaran Road at a rationalised cost of Rs14.68 billion. The project was approved after deleting the security cost, land acquisition cost, reduction of design consultancy charges from 1.6 percent to 1 percent excess in quantities. Balochistan government would make security arrangements for the project and acquire land through its own resources. The release of PSDP funds for the project would be conditional to Balochistan government allocating a minimum road maintenance budget of Rs5 billion for FY 2021-22 and onwards for its provincial highway network.

Inter-Provincial Connectivity Economic Corridor through Gilgit- Baltistan and AJK (Thallichi GB-Shounter AJK), widening and rehabilitation of Astore Valley Road, Package I-IV 103km, Package IV-VII 18km, and total length 121km (package I to V and VII) Project was approved at the rationalised cost of Rs19.195 billion. Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan would be the sponsoring agency of the project, with expected completion in three years.

ECNEC also approved 330.52km dualisation of Khuzdar-Kuchlak Section of National Highway (N-25) at PC-I cost of Rs81.582 billion. The project would be constructed through Districts Khuzdar, Surab, Kalat, Mastung, Quetta, and Kuchlak in Balochistan. National Highway Authority (NHA) would be the executing agency.

Construction of Shandoor-Gilgit Road, a 216km Project in Gilgit-Baltistan was approved at the PC-I cost of Rs49.946 billion. NHA would execute the project.

The meeting approved Sindh Early Learning Enhancement through Classroom Transformation Project at the estimated cost of Rs27.162 billion. The Sindh School Education and Literacy Department would sponsor the project to benefit 12 districts of the province. It is expected that the project will be completed in five years by April 2026. Nisar Ahmad Khuhro specially thanked the forum for the approval.

Gish Kaur Storage Dam, Sami Kallag, District Kech Project was approved at the total cost of Rs11.789 billion. The dam has a storage capacity of 0.04580 million acre feet (MAF), with capacity to irrigate 13,800 acres of command area. The project is expected to complete by 2025. The construction of Panjgoor Storage Dam Project was also approved at the total cost of Rs12.870 billion. Ministry of Water Resources would sponsor the project located on Rakhshan River.

The Awaran Dam Project was approved at the total cost of Rs14.86 billion. The project would be sponsored by Ministry of Water Resources, while the Balochistan Irrigation Department would execute the project.

The Establishment of University of Applied Engineering and Emerging Technologies (UAEET), Sialkot, Punjab was approved at the total cost of Rs16.648 billion, which would be financed through ADP 2021-22 of the government of Punjab.

The Establish of IT Park, Karachi, was also approved by ECNEC at the total cost of Rs31.199 billion. The project would be executed by Pakistan Software Export Board.

The meeting also approved PUEET Phase I in principle at the total cost of Rs23.551 billion. However, ECNEC directed that the cost of the project should be further rationalised in three months and ECNEC should be informed on the same.