ECNEC approves Rs377bn solarization of tube wells project

July 11, 2023 (MLN): The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) considered and approved “Prime Minister’s National Program for Solarization of Agriculture Tube wells” worth Rs377.24 billion with a gestation period of three years, as revealed in a meeting today chaired by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar.

The project is for Punjab, Sindh, KPK, and Baluchistan.

Phase-I of the project will consist of Rs90bn including 30bn of PSDP and equivalent share by provincial governments as well as beneficiary farmers for the financial year 2023-24.

This project is to enhance agricultural productivity through clean and green energy by converting the existing 100,000 tube wells into solar PV systems.

The project is to be executed by the Ministry of National Food Security through the Federal Water Management Cell (FWMC) and the Provincial Departments of Agriculture.

The ECNEC also considered and approved a project of Government of KPK titled “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Investment & Industrial Support Project (RIISP) to be executed by Govt. of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in District Bajur, Khyber, Kurram, Mohmand, North Waziristan, Orakzai, South Waziristan, and erstwhile FR regions at a cost of Rs110.7bn including IDA loan of $300 million from World Bank.

Additionally Govt. of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa share of Rs29.7bn (in kind). The project will be completed in two phases i.e. Phase-I is six years (2023-2029) and Phase II is also six years (2029-2031).

The ECNEC also considered a revised PC-I of ongoing project of the Sindh Government titled “Sindh Solar Energy Project (SSEP)” executed in the Sindh Province by Energy Department of Govt. of Sindh at a revised cost of Rs27.42bn including FEC of Rs24.27bn.

The project is to be financed through WB loan i.e. IDA credit of $100m (95.2%) and $5m by Govt. of Sindh (4.7%).

This on-going project will improve energy security and fulfill Pakistan’s international commitments on climate change.

The ECNEC further considered and approved a project of Ministry of Energy (Power Division) titled “Evacuation of Power from 800 MW Mohmand Dam HPP to the National Grid (PC-I)” at a rationalized cost of Rs14.32bn including FEC of Rs6.32bn.

The source of Financing of the Project is Asian Development Bank. The project is to be executed by National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDC) in the districts Nowshera, Peshawar, and Mohmand of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

The ECNEC also discussed and approved a project of Ministry of Communications titled “Construction of Lahore Bypass from Kalashah Kaku Exit to KLM to Multan Road near Radio Station (40km approx)” at a rationalized cost of Rs34.45bn without FEC.

The project is to be executed by National Highway Authority (NHA) in districts Lahore and Sheikhupura of Punjab Province. The project is to be financed entirely by the Federal government PSDP.

The ECNEC also considered and approved a revised project to be executed by Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination and provincial health departments in collaboration with WHO and UNICEF titled “Emergency Plan for Polio Eradication” at cumulative cost of $1.785, for polio eradication and make Polio free Pakistan.

Federal Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar, SAPM on Finance Mr. Tariq Bajwa, SAPM on Revenue Mr. Tariq Mehmood Pasha, Senator Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, Mr. Himayatullah Khan Advisor Finance KP Govt, Federal Secretaries and other senior officers from Federal Ministries and Provincial departments participated in the meeting.

Copyright Mettis Link News