ISLAMABAD: Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec), scheduled to meet today (Friday) with Finance Minister, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in the chair, is likely to allow Interior Ministry to execute the controversial 'Safe City Project' as the Chinese sponsors have threatened to re-evaluate the project in case of further delay.
Ecnec, in its meeting on July 29, 2011 approved the project at a revised cost of $124.9 million (approximately Rs 11 billion) from original cost of $151.151, slashing the cost by $27 million. The committee also directed that the activation of the project would be subject to the outcome of litigation in view of pending constitution petition No. 11/2011(CP) in the Supreme Court. Ecnec further directed that cost recovery mechanism must be formulated to ensure sustainability of the project.
According to official documents, Ministry of Interior has now informed the Finance Ministry that the Supreme Court had held more than eight hearings on constitutional petition filed by Shahid Orakzai challenging the project. The last hearing was held on August 19, 2011. Ministry of Interior had filed detailed response to the petition and also apprised Registrar of the apex court on October 22, 2011 of the latest progress of the project.
Timeframe for final outcome of the case in the Supreme Court is hard to predict and other similar applications filed in future to frustrate the project may drag the litigation indefinitely. To ascertain, therefore, the present status of the litigation, opinion of Attorney General and Law Ministry was solicited. Law Division advised that "there is no injunctive order by the apex court". Attorney General has argued that the "Supreme Court has not passed any stay order and at this point of time, the GoP has not been restricted by the Supreme Court from proceeding with the project and, therefore, is free to proceed with the proposed project if it so desires".
Documents further disclose that the loan agreement between Pakistan and China for Safe City Islamabad project has validity until December 17, 2011. EximBank of China advised on September 19, 2011 that in the event of failure to avail the loan by that date, the lender may re-evaluate the project. A fresh reminder has been sent by the Bank on October 31, 2011. It is further pointed out that the agreement stipulates that borrower will have to deposit commitment fee within 30 days of loan effectiveness notice of October 13, 2011.
Ministry of Interior has requested that in the public interest for security of Islamabad, which is constantly under threat and keeping in view the indefinite timeframe for finalisation of court case, Ecnec restriction on activation of project may be waived.
Ecnec was apprised a few months ago that this was the best technology available in China and it is compatible with the existing system. It has been also argued that any further delay may cause cost escalation, and compromise the objective of the project to provide due security to the people of the capital.
Ecnec was informed that the project envisages implementation of physical infrastructure and allied facilities to prevent citizens and their properties from security threats and terrorism attacks. The project is initially planned to be implemented in Islamabad.
The project will create an effective and adequate security framework in Islamabad by incorporating strategies preventing unauthorised access of vehicles and individuals entering or operating within the Capital Territory. The project will also strengthen the law enforcement agencies by utilising state of the art technologies including but not limited to cameras, integration of multiple national databases of vehicles and individuals with centralised control rooms to monitor and control situations for prevention of incidents.
Moreover, the project will introduce a prudent monitoring and surveillance system to monitor/record the movement of unauthorised vehicles and persons. It was further revealed that the scope of the project will be achieved by: (i) establishing emergency command centre in Islamabad to report, identify, control and manage any incident or disaster by efficiently making use of limited resources; (ii) using Smart ID cards, Electronic RFID tags, Smart Vehicle Registration Cards and Smart 'Driver Licences for authentication of vehicles and individuals; (iii) installing CCTV cameras and RFID tag readers at key points across the city to provide an effective monitoring and control system; and (iv) providing handheld/portable readers for authentication of vehicles registration cards, driving licenses and subsequently smart ID cards. It was further intimated that RFID tag readers and electronic access control hardware, ie turnstiles, barriers and blockers will be placed at key access points of designated areas or buildings to provide an effective access control system.