ISLAMABAD: The Exe­cut­­ive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Thursday appr­oved six development projects including two major plans for Balochistan with a total cost of about Rs97.646 billion along with over Rs5bn foreign exchange components.

The meeting presided over by Finance Adviser Dr Hafeez Shaikh also okayed a project to manage the operations of Green Line BRTS in the first three years to transfer them to the Sindh government afterwards.

Ecnec approved the second revised cost of Rs4.905bn for the Toiwar/Batozai Storage Dam Project, District Killa Saifullah, Balochistan to be executed by the province’s irrigation department. Ecnec directed the government of Balochistan to ensure the completion of the scheme within revised approved scope and cost. It is estimated that the project will provide storage of 95,000 acre feet of water while 16,750 acres of land will be brought under cultivation.

To enable the Economic Affairs Division for negotiations with the Asian Development Bank for finalising details of project financing, the meeting approved in principle the second revised PC-1 at a total cost of Rs28.465bn for the Naulong Dam Project, Balochistan.

Ecnec also directed the constitution of a committee under ministers of economic affairs, planning development and deputy chairman Privatisation Commission, representative from Ministry of Water and Power as well as Balochistan government to discuss issues related with preparation of second revised PC-I of the project and give its input within two weeks.

To manage operationalisation of Green Line BRTS, Karachi and installation of integrated Intelligent Tran­sport System Equipment, Ecnec gave its nod to a modified PC-1 at total cost of Rs10.956bn with Rs5.316bn as FEC. Sindh Infrastructure Development Company Ltd - a federal government entity - would manage the operations of the project.

It was decided to establish National Electronic Complex of Pakistan, Phase 1 in H-9/1 sector, Islamabad at a revised total cost of Rs16.081bn. Out of this total budgeted amount, Chinese government will provide Rs13.371bn as loan and grant. The project is expected to be completed by June 2022.

Moreover, Ecnec approved a cost of Rs25.345bn for National Programme for enhancing the Command Area in Barani Areas of Pakistan. Its scope includes construction of 2,664 farm ponds for storing rainwater from various sources and installation of solar pumping systems on them for operation of high efficiency of irrigation systems.

The project will also help in development of 4,156 dug wells to promote irrigated agriculture, development/improvement of 2432 watercourses carrying water from various sources for enhancing water conveyance efficiency at farm level and building other beneficial infrastructures and provision of useful equipment for farm land development.

An amount of Rs11.892bn was approved for dualisation and improvement of Mandra-Chakwal Road Project at Districts Rawalpindi and Chakwal, which will be completed from the federal PSDP.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2020