The meeting of Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) that was to approve 42 developmental projects worth Rs 311.53 billion for various sectors ended up without completing its business. Sources said that only half of the projects on agenda could be taken up during the daylong meeting and it was not clear when exactly the next meeting would be held to take up rest of the agenda.
When contacted an official said that the next meeting of Ecnec might be convened on Saturday or next week for taking up rest of the projects but the date was not yet fixed. Though the heavy agenda was the official excuse for the inconclusive Ecnec meeting, but such meetings with even heavier agendas were completed within one day in the past.
The actual reason for delay in approving projects on the agenda might have been differences between federal and provincial authorities and the looming financial constraints faced by the country. The provinces, according to the sources, have protested non-release of funds for the important ongoing development projects.
The government, which is facing severe financial constraints, wanted a substantial cut on the Rs 541 billion Public Sector Development Projects (PSDP) size and had directed the Ministries and Division to prioritise the important projects because the prevailing financial troubles were not permitting the release of PSDP allocation set in the budget.
The representatives of the provincial governments told the meeting that there is a need to prioritise the ongoing development projects instead of approving new ones amid financial difficulties. They said that most of the projects being executed in the provinces are getting delayed due to lack of funds. The finance ministry is not releasing funds to the projects which are of paramount national importance.
The Ecnec, which met with Prime Minister in the chair, was expected to approve projects including Diamer-Bhasha Dam - acquisition of land and resettlement project worth Rs 116.607 billion in water and power sector.
The meeting was to take up 16 projects of Transport and Communication sector worth Rs 47.365 billion, five projects of Water Resources of Rs 32.921 billion, three projects of energy worth Rs 118.701 billion, two projects of health sector worth Rs 27.191 billion, two projects of environment worth Rs 2.232 billion, two projects of devolution and area development worth Rs 5.672 billion, one project of education sector with Rs 657.631 million, two projects of Higher Education (HEC) 2.006 billion, one project of social sector of Rs 560 million, one project of cultural Sports and Tourism of Rs 2.519 billion and one project of Industry and Commerce worth Rs 1.985 billion. The six projects of Physical Planning and Housing with the cost of Rs 70.618 billion were also on the agenda.
Comments
Comments are closed.