The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) has approved over Rs 681 billion projects for various sectors, including construction of Yellow Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor and land acquisition and purchase of built-up property for Dasu Dam project.
The meeting of the Ecnec presided over by Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh also granted ex-post facto approval to the development of Phase-1 of Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on EPE/turnkey mode. Sources said that the cost of first phase of Kartarpur Corridor Rs 13 billion.
On the proposals of Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform, the Ecnec approved construction of 21-km long dedicated Yellow Bus Rapid Transit-BRT Corridor linking Landhi to Numaish, 47.55km, Peshawar-Torkham Motorway Project and interlinking of 220 kV Daharki, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur and Chishtian grid stations for improvement of power supply system in southern areas.
The Ecnec approved the construction of Karachi Urban Mobility Project (Yellow Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Corridor) to be executed by the government of Sindh at a cost of Rs 61.439 billion.
The project to be funded mainly by the World Bank would cover a distance of 21 kms (17.6 km at grade and 3.4 km) and link Landhi to Numaish.
The project would have 28 stations having facility of 268 buses and some 300,000 passengers would benefit from the corridor every day.
The Ecnec also approved construction of Peshawar-Torkham Motorway Project as component-1 of Khyber Pass Economic Corridor (KPEC) at a rationalized cost of Rs 36.705 billion (US $231.10 million); however, it would be contingent on a coordination committee between federal government and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for overview and fiscal discipline of the project.
The project would have World Bank's share of Rs 34.503 billion (US $217.24 million) based on preliminary design while the firmed-up cost of the project would be available after the receipt of bids on design-build-operate to be developed by the Planning Commission.
The meeting also approved component-II "Economic Development & Uplift of Areas Adjoining the Motorway" for which the Framework Agreement to facilitate preparation and feasibilities through World Bank had been agreed at a total cost of Rs 8.357 billion.
The Ecnec further approved a project for Interlinking of 220 kV Daharki, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur and Chishtian grid stations for improvement of power supply system in southern areas at an updated cost of Rs 15.795 billion, including Foreign Exchange Component of Rs 9.800 billion, to provide reliable and uninterrupted power to consumers.
The project would improve the reliability and uninterrupted power supply to HESCO and MEPCO areas while the interlinking of RY Khan grid station to Daharki through 220kV transmission line would provide backup link among Multan, Guddu and Shikarpur while the proposed line from RY Khan to Bahawalpur and in/out of Vehari-Chishtian 220 kV single circuit transmission line would provide additional source of supply to 220 kV Bahawalpur and Chishtian grid stations.
Among other projects, the ECNEC approved construction of a four-lane 18.98 km long (with embankment for 6 lanes) Expressway on East Bay of Gwadar Port at a cost of Rs 17.369 billion with a foreign exchange component of Rs 16.435 billion to link Gwadar Port with the Makran Coastal Highway as well as with Gwadar Free Zone and future container terminals.
The project would also have one interchange and four bridges, four pedestrian overhead bridges along with cross-drainage structures and allied works.
The Ecnec also accorded approval to Dasu Hydropower Project (Stage-1); Revision of Cost for Land Acquisition and Built-up Property at a total cost of Rs 510.980 billion, including Rs 36.914 billion for land cost, and directed the Planning, Development & Reform Division to issue authorization of the revised cost of land acquisition and built-up property of Dasu Hydropower Project (Stage-1) as recommended by CDWP and subsequently by ECNEC.
The Ecnec also approved Lahore Water and Wastewater Management Project-Construction of Surface Water Treatment Plant at BRDB Canal Lahore at a cost of Rs 21.045 billion with foreign exchange component of Rs 19.684 billion to provide adequate quantity of safe drinking water to target areas of Shadipura, Baghbanpura, Fatehgarh and Mustafabad in Lahore through a unified water supply network.
On the Planning Commission's proposal for simplification of development funds release process, the meeting decided that the release of project-wise funds allocated in PSDP to the ongoing approved projects of ministries/divisions during the first week of each quarter as per criteria of the Finance Division (20% in 1st & 2nd quarter and 30% in 3rd and 4th quarter) without originating demand by the principal account officer (PAO).
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