9 projects worth over Rs302bn approved by ECNEC

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has granted approval to nine mega development projects worth around Rs302 billion.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin presided over the meeting of ECNEC when the projects were approved. During the meeting the project of Pakistan Optical Remote Sensing Satellite (PRSS-02) of SUPARCO worth of Rs27.913 billion was approved. The project will help in building the indigenous capacity in the fields of space/satellite technology and its applications, and promote high-tech research and development activities in the country.

The ECNEC also approved the New Gwadar International Airport(NGIA) 2nd revised project of Rs51.298 billion. The 2nd revised project will be focused on construction of NGIA and allied facilities over a piece of land already acquired. The new airport will be suitable for bigger aircrafts like Airbus A-380 and Boeing-747 and 777 etc for international and domestic flights.

ECNEC has also approved Sialkot (Sambrial)–Kharian Motorway project of Rs42.382 billion. The project envisages construction of 69km long, 4-lane wide Sambrial-Kharian Motorway with structures to be constructed for six lanes. Planning Commission and the Ministry of Communication has been successful finalising this project on the PPP basis.

The ECNEC also approved the project of the Ministry of Energy on the ADB-funded advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) in the IESCO at a cost of Rs16.930 billion. The project envisages enhancing load control and loading management up to the interface of the electricity distribution system operated by the distribution companies (DISCOs). The AMI project is designed as a least cost solution to reduce losses and efficiently balancing supply in the specific areas of the IESCO.

The ECNEC also approved Remodelling of Warsak Canal System in Peshawar and Nowshera districts worth Rs16.695.81 billion.

The ECNEC also considered a project Pak University of Engineering and Emerging Technologies (PUEET) Phase-I (Knowledge Economy Initiative) of the HEC with a cost of Rs23.54 billion. The PUEET would be a research and commercialization university, which would house various centres of excellence in the cutting-edge fields of science and technology and a state-of-the-art- technology park.

ECNEC approved Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project (KPCIP) at a cost of Rs97.146 billion. The KPCIP will improve the quality of life of the residents of Abbottabad, Kohat, Mardan, Mingora, and Peshawar