Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) has sought an amount of Rs 29 billion for the implementation of seven development projects, which have been referred to the Planning and Development (P&D) Division for the approval, sources told Business Recorder on Sunday.
The projects include Uranium Exploration in Pakistan, Rs 4.61 billion; procurement of Chemical Processing Plant, Rs 16.4 billion; Fuel Feasibility Plant, Rs 2.9 billion; Nuclear Power Fuel Testing Project, Rs 0.96 billion; Engineering Design Organisation for Implementation of PAEC''s Nuclear Power Programme, Rs 1.5 billion; Seamless Tube Plant, Rs 2.5 billion and Acquisition of Land and Construction of Office Buildings and Accommodation facilities of Nuclear Power Plant Supplier of KANUPP-2 project, Rs 1.6 billion.
These projects along with other 61 development schemes in various sectors at an estimated cost of around Rs 65.2 billion would come up for the consideration of the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) in its meeting on Monday, April 30, the sources said. The foreign exchange component (FEC) has been estimated at around Rs 27.3 billion.
Other projects in energy sector include the Ministry of Water and Power scheme of Rehabilitation of Jabban Hydroelectric Power Station of Rs 1.03 billion and the preparation of tender document and detailed engineering design of Phandar Hydro Power Project with a cost of Rs 0.12 billion, the sources said.
In water sector, the CDWP would consider four small dams projects to be constructed in NWFP at an estimated cost of Rs 0.835 billion. Prominent among these projects, is the Hydro Geological Investigations in District Nowshera (Revised) which would cost Rs 0.107 billion, they added.
The highest allocation might go to the education sector, where the ministry of education is seeking an amount of Rs 31.92 billion. The important scheme to be considered by the CDWP is the Rs 31.7 billion scheme of President Education Sector Reforms Programme. The other project is provision of 119 computer laboratories in educational institutions in Islamabad.
In food and agriculture sector, the important project of Commercialisation of Tea Production Through Public-Private Sectors'' Partnership is of Rs 0.889 billion. The ministry of food, agriculture and livestock (Minfal) is also seeking Rs 0.5 billion for the establishment of National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB). Besides, the project of National Bio-saline Agriculture Programme of Rs 0.881 billion and Improving Reproductive Efficiency of Cattle and Buffaloes of Rs 0.489 billion would also be considered by the CDWP.
Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) project of National Programme on Environmental Activity Surveillance of Rs 0.483 billion, Ministry of Defence project of Installation of Ship Lift and Transfer System at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KSEW) of Rs 2.8 billion and SUPARCO''s Pakistan Communication Satellite System of Rs 13.9 billion would be taken up during the meeting.
The Finance Ministry scheme of Rs 0.173 billion Micro Finance for the Poorest financed by Japan and the scheme of Improving Access to Financial Services of Rs 0.152 billion and the Commerce Ministry scheme of Restructuring of the Foreign Trade Institute of Pakistan (FTIP) with a cost of Rs 0.17 billion are also on the agenda of the CDWP.
The CDWP would also take up 10 projects, costing around Rs 3.2 billion, of Ministry of Science and Technology, eight projects of Rs 2.8 billion of Higher Education Commission (HEC), and 16 projects of Rs 2.37 billion in the physical planning and housing sectors.