ECNEC approves Rs176.16bn worth of projects in various sectors

August 09, 2023 (MLN): The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Wednesday considered and approved projects worth Rs176.16 billion in various sectors, said a press release issued by the Finance Division on the same day.

The ECNEC considered and approved a World Bank-funded project of the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives titled “Resilient Housing Reconstruction and Restoration in all districts of Balochistan at a cost of Rs43.4bn.

The project is to be executed by the government of Balochistan through Federal PMU & provincial PIU to support communities to reconstruct their houses affected by floods in 2022 in Baluchistan province. The entire cost will be borne by the Federal government.

The ECNEC also considered a project of the Board of Revenue (BoR) regarding the “Punjab Urban Land Systems Enhancement Project (PULSE)” at an updated cost of Rs26.44bn, to be fully financed by the World Bank.

The project is to be executed by the Punjab Board of Revenue (BoR) through Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA) in Punjab Province.

A project of the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit Baltistan titled “Establishment of Regional Grids in Gilgit-Baltistan Phase-I (Revised)” was also considered and approved at with rationalized scope and cost of Rs9.15bn with FEC of Rs1.68bn.

The project will be executed by W&P Dept, Gilgit-Baltistan in Districts Gilgit, Hunza, and Skardu in the GB region.

Ministry of Communication submitted a summary regarding the project “Dualization of the road from Chistan to Chak no 46/3R via Dahrnawala (41.154 km) including two-lane Link Road from Dahrnawala to Chaki 175m (4.859 km)” to be executed in District Bahwalnagar of Punjab Province by National Highway Authority and Ministry of Communications.

The project was approved by ECNEC at a total cost of Rs8.96bn without FEC on a 50:50 cost-sharing basis between the Federal government and the government of Punjab with the condition of confirmation of the Punjab Government cost share. 

A project submitted by the Ministry of Water Resources, namely “Construction of Awaram Dam (Revised)” was also submitted for the approval of ECNEC.

The project was approved at a cost of Rs23.58bn without FEC. It will be executed in District Awaran of Balochistan by the Irrigation Department, Government of Balochistan. Moreover, the project is to be financed through Federal and Provincial Government on 80:20 cost sharing basis.

Another project of Ministry of Water Resources regarding “Construction of Panjgur Dam in District Panjgur, Balochistan” was also approved by the ECNEC at a revised cost of Rs. 22.34bn without FEC.

The project is to be financed by both Federal and Provincial Governments on an 80:20 cost-sharing basis. This project will also be executed by the Irrigation Department, Government of Balochistan in District Panjgur.

A project of the government of Sindh regarding “Construction/Re-construction of Existing Schools in Sindh affected under Rain/Flood 2022 in Sindh (1800 units)” was also considered and approved at a cost of Rs12.34bn with 50:50 cost-sharing basis between the Federal government and government of Sindh with the condition to fulfill the uncompleted observations in accordance with the decision of CDWP.

The project is to be executed by School Education & Literacy Department (SE&LD) Sindh in various Districts of Sindh. The project is to be financed through PSDP (2023-24).

Lastly, an already approved Project of the government of Sindh, namely the “Sindh “Solar Energy Project (SSEP)” with an updated cost of Rs. 27.42bn was also reconsidered.

The meeting was updated on the site of the implementation of the project and substantial savings in the electricity units.

The meeting was chaired by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, SAPM on Finance Mr. Tariq Bajwa, Federal Secretaries and other senior officers from Federal Ministries and Provincial departments.

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