The total estimated cost of 38 on-going projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is Rs 1.43 trillion, including a Rs 282.32 billion foreign assistance while a total of Rs 179.85 billion has been spent till June 30, 2016.
According to documents which were presented in a meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reforms which met with Senator Colonel Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi (retd) in the chair at Parliament House on Friday, the federal government has budgeted Rs 129.858 billion for 38 projects in the current fiscal year. Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms briefed the Committee on the progress of on-going projects of CPEC and amounts allocated in the Budget 2016-17 for such projects under the Public Sector Development Plan (PSDP). The Committee was also briefed about the latest position of CASA-1000 project and Rs 1.15 billion allocated to Mansehra, the constituency of Captain Mohammad Safdar (retd), the son-in-law of the Prime Minister.
According to documents, the government has budgeted Rs 500 million for financial year 2016-17 for development and construction of Gwadar Port-allied infrastructure at Mullahband area. The objective of this project is construction and development of Port allied buildings and other infrastructure inside the Port area like bank branches, stevedores'' offices, agency offices, customs clearing agents'', container freight stations, container repair/ testing yard, cold sheds marine storage, cargo storage, repair workshop, seamen center, rest house/canteen/utility store, etc.
Construction of East-Bay Expressway Gwadar Port project will be completed at a cost of Rs 13.54 billion with a Foreign Exchange Component through a government of China concessional loan while budgeted allocation for financial year 2016-17 is Rs 4700 million. It is a 19-Km 6-lane expressway with 2-way railway track. The expected date of completion of project is December 2018. There is also project of technical & vocational institute at Gwadar at an estimated cost Rs 925 million.
The CPEC projects, including the construction of Burhan-Hakla on M-1 DI Khan Motorway, have budgetary allocation of Rs 22 billion, Rs 5 billion allocation for Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab Section (200 KM) of Gwadar-Ratodo Road (829 KM ) M-8, Rs 34 billion allocation for Lahore Abdul Hakeem Section (230 KM) for financial year 2016-17.
The Committee was told that the government has allocated one percent of total cost of the CPEC projects for security. A total of 9000 troops are being appointed permanently while 6000 temporary civilian security personnel are being appointed for the security projects of CEPC.
Senator Usman Kakar said there is a free of cost public land from Zhob to Quetta and from Quetta to Khuzdar for railway track for western route of CPEC project but the government is not giving priority to it. Director General Planning at Ministry of Railways Syed Mazhar Ali Shah told the Committee that this railway project has been included in the CPEC and a feasibility study is being conducted. However, he said that this project is not financially viable but the government would also complete it in mid- and long-term.
Discussing the projects of Rs 1.15 billion in the constituency of Captain Safdar, the Committee members asked why the government is giving a huge amount to his constituency. Ministry of Planning Adviser Asif Sheikh told the Committee that five of the six district Mansehra projects had been approved. He said the projects include construction of an airport in Manserha at a cost of Rs 950 million, completion of leftover work at Hazara University of Rs 100 million, construction of road of Rs 15 million and other projects related to construction of small dams and water supply schemes. While discussing CASA-1000, the Committee was told that ground breaking ceremony of this project was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on May 12, 2016. All countries and financing institutions had renewed their commitment to the project.
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