58 locomotives recommended for railways

ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Monday recommended procurement of 58 Diesel Electric Locomotives worth Rs16.3 billion to Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) for meeting requirement of Pakistan Railways (PR).

The CDWP has approved eleven development projects worth Rs10.078 billion including four higher education projects.  It also recommended procurement of 58 Diesel Electric Locomotive worth Rs16,3 billion to Ecnec after giving clearance to it and accorded approval to concept clearance of the two projects. 

The CDWP approved concept clearance proposal of establishment of Cardiac Care Centre at Aims, Islamabad at the cost of Rs393.238 million. It also approved concept clearance for establishment of Central Asian Regional Economic Corporation (CAREC) University in Islamabad. Ahsan Iqbal said that this university should be “university of tomorrow” by attracting the best human resource from the world for it.

The meeting of CDWP was chaired by Federal Minister Planning, Development & Reform Ahsan Iqbal, which took up the development projects in water resources, transport and communication, physical planning and housing and education sectors. 

The foreign exchange component of the approved projects totaled Rs1693.182 million. Ahsan Iqbal directed that projects should be completed within the given time, approved cost and resources. 

The higher number of projects approved in CDWP related to Higher Education Commission, which Ahsan Iqbal said that is part of the efforts to develop knowledge economy in the country.  It approved strengthening and enhancement of academic provision in Faculty of Life & Environment Sciences, University of Peshawar worth Rs547.215 million. 

It also approved development of University of Balochistan, Quetta project at the cost of Rs1096.74 million with foreign exchange component of RS571.073 million. Establishment and upgrading of Core Engineering Department in Mardan Campus of UET Peshawar at the cost of o Rs1382.599 million was approved with FEC of Rs763.485 million.

The CDWP also approved strengthening of Academic & Research Program of Mehran University of Engineering & Technology Jamshoro at the cost of Rs927.148 million with Rs358.624 million. 

In water resources sector, CDWP approved Feasibility Study of Akhori Dam project at the cost of RS286.857 million. Construction of Sanam Dam project in District Lower Dir was also approved. 

Ahsan Iqbal said that this project would benefit the backward district of Lower Dir by catering the water supply needs for drinking and irrigation purposes. The project would cost Rs944.673 million. In transport & communication sector, CDWP approved construction of Fish Landing Jetty & Allied Harbour Works at Surbandar Eastbay Gwadar at the cost Rs1650.342 million. It also approved construction of Fish Landing Jetty and Allied Harbour Works at Pishukan Eastbay Gwadar at the cost of Rs1869.299 million. CDWP approved one project of Ministry of Railway and referred one of its projects to Ecnec after giving clearance to it. 

The approved project is upgradation of Terminal Facilities at Dry Port at the cost of Rs1022.614 million. Procurement of 58 Diesel Electric Locomotives at the cost of Rs16300 million was referred to ECNEC after approving it. In physical planning and housing sector, CDWP approved construction of Complex for National Highways & Motorway Police at Rahimyar Khan at the cost of Rs113.093 million. It also approved construction of Residential & Non-Residential Buildings for Force HQ GB Scouts and 112 Wing at Skardu at the cost of Rs237.217 million.