ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved and recommended 68 projects costing Rs 170.4 billion with foreign exchange component of Rs 36.0 billion. However, the CDWP has blocked a move of the Cabinet Division to purchase a helicopter for Very Important Personalities (VIPs) at a time when the country is facing a financial crunch.
The CDWP in a meeting held on Friday rejected two projects submitted by the Cabinet Division that included setting up of Sheikh Zayed Medical College in Sheikhupura for which Punjab government had demanded of the federal government to pay the cost of acquiring 600 kanals of land.
The CDWP argues that medical college can be set up only if the Punjab government agrees to provide land free of cost. Sources said the Cabinet Division came under fire during meeting for submitting a plan to purchase helicopter for VIPs under the project "Upgradation/Strengthening of Cabinet 6 Aviation Squadron for relief operation and Enhancement of Security," costing Rs 3048.209 million.
The CDWP denied approval of the project after facing strong criticism as it was shocked to learn that the Cabinet Division had planned to purchase a helicopter for VIPs at a time when the country was undergoing financial crunch. The Cabinet Division has already set up helipad near 'sports complex' in Islamabad and wanted its expansion. "But more money was proposed for housing accommodation, vehicles and helicopter under the proposed project that was strongly criticised," sources maintained.
Sources say that deputy chairman Planning Commission Dr Nadeem ul Haque supported the financing for acquisition of land only meant for expansion of helipad. He proposed to hire buildings to accommodate the employees and denied funds for housing and vehicles. During the CDWP meeting it was observed that Sheikh Zayed Medical College should be set up if Punjab government expresses willingness to provide 600 kanals land without any cost.
"The college is being set up in Punjab province and therefore respective government should contribute to the project," sources said, quoting officials in CDWP meeting. Another suggestion was that federal government should withdraw from the project as the Health Ministry was being transferred to provinces and therefore Punjab government should carry out this project from its resources after 18th Amendment.
But the Cabinet official said that though Sheikh Zayed Hospital Lahore was being run by the Cabinet nominated board of governors' federal government should be involved in the project. Some officials said Punjab had already enjoyed a number of medical colleges, hence the federal government should not set up medical college in Sheikhupura.
Meanwhile, according to a statement issued here, the CDWP meeting was held under the chairmanship of deputy chairman Planning Commission, Dr Nadeem ul Haque mainly to consider federal projects to be located in Balochistan. The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Balochistan, Balochistan Cabinet Members & Chief Secretary Balochistan on special invitation. In addition, the meeting was also attended by the representatives from federal sponsoring agencies, provincial governments and special areas.
The CDWP considered 68 projects costing Rs 170.4 billion including Foreign Exchange Component of Rs 36.0 billion. Of 68 projects, 37 projects are of Infrastructure sector costing Rs 107.9 billion, 28 projects in Social Sector costing Rs 59.5 billion and 3 projects costing Rs 2.9 billion were approved/recommended by the CDWP. The CDWP recommended 19 projects each costing over Rs 1000.00 million with overall cost of Rs 148.4 billion to Ecnec for consideration/approval. Of 68 projects, 35 projects costing Rs 31.6 billion are of Balochistan.
Of 69 projects, 33 projects are budgeted in federal PSDP (2010-11) with an allocation of Rs 4.5 billion, 03 projects costing Rs 21 billion will be financed with foreign assistance by the provinces included i) Japanese Assisted Rural Roads Construction Project/KP Emergency Rural Road Rehabilitation Project, ii) Southern Punjab Poverty Alleviation Project (IFAD Funding) & iii) Poverty Alleviation through Enhancement of Agriculture Productivity (Progressive Replacement of 100 Bulldozers for Land Development Work in Balochistan).
Projects in water sector included '64 Emergent Flood Schemes, Sindh (costing Rs 14.0 billion)' and 'Construction of Flood Protection Schemes in Qilla Saifullah (Costing Rs 170 million)' 'Construction of 100 Delay Action Dams in Balochistan, Package-1 (20 dams)(Costing Rs 2.47 billion)' 'Extension of Pat Feeder Canal for Utilisation of Indus Water in Balochistan (Costing Rs 5.77 billion)' To provide fresh water to Thar Coal power projects, 'Makhi Farash Link Canal Project (Chotiari Phase-II) including Feasibility Study (Thar Coal) costing Rs 27.0 billion) was also recommended by the CDWP.
Transport and Communications sector projects, among others, included 'Construction of Expressway on East Bay of Gwadar Port costing Rs 6.3 billion' Rehabilitation of NHA Highways Network damaged due to Unprecedented Mansoon Rain & Floods 2010 costing R 26.3 billion' and 'Construction of Rathoa - Haryam Bridge and its Approaches Across Reservoir Channel on Mirpur - Islamgarh Road costing Rs 3.7 billion' were recommended by CDWP for approval.
To provide higher education opportunities at doorstep to the students of Balochistan, two universities costing over Rs 3.0 billion are being established at Turbat and Loralai. Projects of these universities were approved by CDWP. To promote industrial activities in Balochistan, five projects for establishment of Industrial Estates in Balochistan costing about Rs 1.0 billion have been approved by the CDWP.
These Industrial Estates are being established at Dera Murad Jamali, Quetta, Bostan and Khuzdar. Another important project of the industrial sector 'Establishment of Turbines and Power Plants Equipment Manufacturing Facility at Heavy Mechanical Complex, Taxila costing Rs 21.5 billion was recommended to Ecnec for approval.
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