National Economic Council (Ecnec) in the first week of October approved six projects of over Rs 281 billion for power, communication as well as water and social sectors.
The meeting of executive committee of the Ecnec presided over by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar considered and approved proposal for the construction of 100 small dams in Balochistan-package III (20 Dams) in the different districts of Balochistan with rationalised cost of Rs. 7.829 billion.
The meeting was informed the project aimed at completion in three years and will benefit Balochistan in terms of controlling flood flows and supply of around 175,500 acre-ft of conserved flood water for direct irrigation and drinking purposes. The project would help irrigate around 58,500 acres of fertile cultivable land and save the land from flood damages.
The Ecnec also approved International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) funded revised” “Southern Punjab Poverty Alleviation Project (SPPAP) project with revised cost of Rs 4.657 billion including foreign exchange component of Rs 4.140 billion. The project, the meeting was informed would be implemented in four less developed districts of Punjab namely Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur by 2017. The IFAD has promised to provide US$ 40.13 million financing through a soft loan.
The meeting also approved “Gwadar-Nawabshah LNG Terminal & Pipeline Project (GNP)” at the rationalized cost of Rs. 203.314 billion with Rs. 135.128 billion as FEC. The project aimed at construction of 700 km pipeline of 42 inches diameter from Gwadar to Nawabshah is expected to complete in two years (2016-2018). The Economic Affairs Division (EAD) has arranged financing for the project from EXIM Bank China.
The Ecnec considered a proposal of Ministry of Railways and allowed “Procurement of 58 Diesel Electric Locomotives worth Rs.16.300 billion with FEC of Rs11.755 billion.
The procurement will be complete by December 2016 to replace the older one. The meeting was told that these locomotives will be used to haul freight and passenger services along with High Capacity Wagons fitted with air brakes and roller bearing to help improve the capacity of the Pakistan Railways.
The Ecnec approved Golan Gol Hydropower project (106 MW) revised version for district Chitral Khyber Pakhtunkhawa at projected cost of Rs.29. 077 billion with FEC of Rs 10.679 billion.
The meeting was informed that the project having an installed capacity of 106 MW would generate an annual energy of about 436 GWh. It will be connected to the national grid with a 198 kms transmission line which include 132kV transmission line from Golan Gol to Timurgarha passing over Lowari pass (145 kms) and 132 kV single circuit line from Taimurgarh to Chakdra (53 kms).
The Ecnec meeting also approved a project of Peshawar Electric Supply Company for the construction of 7th Secondary Transmission Line and Grid Stations at the rationalised cost of Rs. 19.989 billion with FEC of Rs.1920.574 million. The project will be completed in five years (2016-21) and will benefit the entire province of KP.
