The government will seek assistance from Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP) for three projects in water sector worth Rs 80.6 billion in a meeting to be held in Tokyo on April 17. It will also seek assistance for Railways "Rehabilitation of 400 Passenger coaches" project, costing Rs 3.434 billion.
Sources told Business Recorder on Wednesday that the government would request the FODP to provide assistance for three water projects, including Greater Thal Canal (Phase 1), worth Rs 30.467 billion; Kachi Canal (Phase 1) worth Rs 31.204 billion; and Rainee Canal (Phase 1) costing Rs 18.861 billion.
The government had allocated Rs 1.5 billion for Greater Thal Canal (Phase 1), Rs 8.5 billion for Kachi Canal (Phase 1) and Rs 3 billion for Rainee Canal (Phase 1) in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2008-09. But due to financial constraints, it is unable to arrange financing for these projects from domestic resources, and would request the FODP to provide financial assistance, sources added.
The government will also seek assistance for the Railways "Rehabilitation of 400 Passenger coaches" project costing Rs 3.434 billion. Due to financial restrictions, the government had also to reduce the budget of Railways Division from Rs 11.280 billion to Rs 6.560 billion. Now, it will seek assistance from the FODP.