The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Wednesday made the declaration of expenditures mandatory for developmental and non-developmental projects to ensure transparency and good governance at all levels. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz chaired the meeting.
Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr Akram Shaikh briefed newsmen on Ecnec decisions.
He said the declaration would apply to procurement of any contract, right, interest, privilege or other obligation or benefit from the government or any administrative subdivision or agency thereof or any other entity owned or controlled by it (GoP).
The contractor/firm agency or company will declare the brokerage, commission, fees, etc., paid or payable to anyone. It demands that the contractor/firm or agency involved in development or non-development projects has made and will make full disclosure of all agreements and arrangements with all persons in respect of or related to the transaction with the GoP and has not taken any action or will not take any action to circumvent the above declaration, representation or warranty.
False declaration or half disclosure, misrepresenting facts or any action likely to defeat the purpose of this declaration, representation and warranty will cost heavily to the contractor/firm or company. Any loss or damage incurred by the contractor/firm or company on account of corrupt business practices will result in heavy compensation to the GoP in an amount equivalent to 10 times the sum of any commission, gratification, bribe, finder's fee or kickback for the purpose of obtaining or inducing the procurement of any contract, right, interest, privilege or other obligation or benefit in whatsoever form from the GoP.
The Ecnec approved 30 projects worth Rs 183.6 billion. Foreign exchange component (FEC) will make half share of the funds.
Major share, Rs 118.2 billion, of the funding will go to infrastructure-related projects. Good governance will cost Rs 51.8 billion.
Other sectors, which were granted funds included energy, physical planning and housing, transport, communications and water.
SOCIAL SECTOR: Its six projects would cost Rs 7.252 billion for DERA as special package for Balochistan, education, population welfare, three projects of governance Rs 51.833 billion, one for agriculture Rs 3.5 billion.
POWER SECTOR: Two transmission lines to supply power from Neelum Jehlum hydropower project would cost Rs 11.216 billion. It also included FEC of Rs 4.879 billion. The feasibility study and detailed engineering design and preparation of tender documents for Bunji hydropower project would cost Rs 833 million. It also included Rs 232 FEC.
PHYSICAL PLANNING AND HOUSING: Lyari Expressway resettlement project. It would cost Rs 4.686 billion, construction of accommodation for Bhattai Rangers Rs 616 million, Karachi Water Supply K-III Rs 8.561 billion (inclusive of Rs 2 billion from PSDP), construction of accommodation for Abdullah Shah Ghazi Rangers (Sindh) in Karachi Rs 606 million; construction of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Headquarters, Islamabad, Rs 541 million.
TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS: It included interconnect building and customer support system for SCO Rs 580 million, improvement of national highway, Kararo Wad Section Rs 2.328 billion (Rs 2.231 billion FEC), Korangi 8000 road Rs 1.077 billion, national highway development project Rs 31.242 billion (Rs 25.109 billion FEC); black topping winder Kanrag road up to Dudder- 106 km Rs 756 million, procurement/manufacturing of MT 75 diesel electric locomotives Rs 12.7 billion (Rs 8.4 billion FEC), procurement/manufacturing of 150 new design passenger coaches Rs 5.977 billion (Rs 3.966 billion FEC), rehabilitation and improvement of track (2001-2007 revised) Rs 9.405 billion (Rs 3.326 billion FEC and procurement/manufacturing of 1000 high capacity bogie wagons of Rs 5.33 billion(Rs 2.967 billion FEC).
NDP: The Ecnec approved National Drainage Programme (NDP) revised PC-1 of Rs 2.17 billion in water sector.
SOCIAL SECTOR: This included special package for re-stocking and rehabilitation of ruminants perished due to persistent drought with Rs 650 million.
EDUCATION: Punjab school libraries project to cost Rs 1.248 billion (Rs 998 million FEC); science education project Rs 2.42 billion (Rs 1.759 billion FEC), construction of Captain Kernal Sher Khan Shaheed Credit College Swabi for Rs 597 million.
SAFE DRINKING WATER PROJECT: Establishment of additional RHS-A- centers Punjab to cost Rs 924 million and safe drinking water Rs 1.413 million.
The Ecnec also approved Rs 1.696 billion for the Prime Minister's Special Initiative Livestock. It has Rs 100 million share in the PSDP.
Akram Sheikh said that the pilot project of livestock was for the entire country including AJK, Fata and Fana. He said that the project would focus on milk production and help the government in reducing poverty from the rural areas.
In all Rs 1.837 billion were allocated for Barani Village Development project (Punjab).
GOVERNANCE: The committee approved Rs 51.833 billion for three projects for governance. These were access to justice programme. It would cost Rs 6.42 billion at the federal level and Rs 11.88 billion at the provincial level (100 percent FEC) and Rs 30 billion were approved for DERA-II project.
The committee also approved Rs 1.252 billion for post-doctoral fellowship for university teachers and Rs 5.142 billion (Rs 672 million FEC) for Rawalpindi environmental improvement project.
Dr Akram Sheikh said that the government has sufficient funds to finance three or even more big water reservoirs, including Kalabagh Dam.
He said that the government should utilise ideal northern mountain height of 8,000 feet and substantial amount of water in the rivers by making dams.
Pakistan's rich water resources, if materialised in the shape of dams and reservoirs, could highly improve economic and social development of the country, he added.
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