The CDWP meeting Tuesday approved 12 projects worth about Rs 30 billion and recommended four projects worth Rs 14 billion to Ecnec. Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Prof Ahsan Iqbal chaired the meeting. Sixteen projects were discussed at the meeting. Four projects of energy and six projects of higher education sectors were approved.
The Federal Minister said, "Thirty-eight higher education projects have been approved during the last two years which is a record. This unprecedented number of HEC projects shows our commitment to higher education. We have to catch up fast on the knowledge front with the world if we have to develop fast."
While giving directives to HEC, he said, "The construction of new campuses by HEC should be done with quality designs, incorporating green energy design and special student friendly panel of architects and designers should be constituted." He directed HEC to develop 10-year human resource plan for Pakistan to guide PhD scholarship programmes.
Some of the approved projects are as under:
ENERGY: Evacuation of power from 1200MW RLNG based combined cycle power plant at Bhikki is the project envisaging evacuation of 1200MW RLNG based power plant at Bhikki to respective load centres of Discos by interconnection of the proposed power plant with existing 500KV Lahore-Gatti Transmission line. The project is to be financed through borrowing from local bank/NTDCL's own resources. The project will be completed in 18 months. The project will be financed through international financing institutions and NTDC's own resources.
HIGHER EDUCATION: The project of developing new campus of GC University Lahore at Kala Shah Kaku is designed to establish first ever sub-campus of the University. Prior to initiating academic activities at campus, a detailed academic feasibility study was carried out and 35 academic programs were identified which will be implemented in phases. Its cost is Rs 982 million to be funded from PSDP allocation of HEC. The project will be completed in three years.
The project of providing academic and research facilities at Sardar Bahadur Khan Women's University at Quetta envisages expansion of ICT facilities and deployment of security equipment. The project is aimed at enhancing the capacity building of MS/Mphil/PhD faculty of both technical and admin staff. New central library and laboratory block will also be constructed. Its cost is Rs 696 million to be funded from PSDP allocation of HEC. The project will be completed in two years.
Construction of Boys & Girls Hostel (100 capacity each) at Islamia College University Peshawar is the project under which two hostels of 24,010 square feet each will be constructed. The project will increase accommodation facilities for 200 students especially for girls coming from far flung areas of KP, Fata and Pata. Both of the hostels will be constructed within the premises of University. The total cost of project is Rs 209 million and it will be completed in two years.
The project of awarding 3,000 scholarships to Afghan students under the directive of Prime Minister will be funded from grant pledged by the Government of Pakistan for reconstruction of Afghanistan. The project is an extension of a concept paper prepared by HEC in 2007 for award of 1,000 scholarships. As per decision of Committee for Reconstruction & Rehabilitation of Afghanistan CRRA in 10th meeting, held on March 21, 2014, responsibility of executing the project has to be transferred from M/O IPC to HEC. The number of scholarships was increased from 1,000 to 2000 in 2010 for a period of 2009-18 at estimated cost of Rs 3,385 million. In the present scheme it has been increased from 2000 to 3000 during 2013-14 for a period of 2009-2021 with estimated cost of Rs 6200 million. The project will award scholarship to around 12,468 students in the areas of engineering and technology, agriculture and veterinary sciences and other basic and social sciences.
The project of Fulbright Scholarship Support Programme HEC-USAID phase II will be funded through the PSDP allocation of HEC and Grant-in Aid provided by USAID. After the successful implementation of Phase-I of the project, USAID showed interest for continuity of the programme. The present scheme aims at overcoming the shortage of qualified manpower. 816 Fulbright scholarships will be awarded including 550 scholarships for masters/Mphil and 266 PhD in priority areas mutually decided by HEC and USEFP at US universities. Out of total cost of this project Rs 12,572 million, 79 percent will be US grant-in Aid.
HEALTH: Establishment of Safe Blood Transfusion Services in GB is the project which will provide safe blood and blood components to the people of GB through construction of a regional blood transfusion centre, procurement of medical equipments and purchase of other logistics. The centre will collect blood only from voluntary non-remunerated blood donors at low risk of accruing transfusion transmissible infections and ensure 100 percent quality assured testing. It will also develop human resource at local level to ensure adequate numbers of qualified and trained staff in blood transfusion field. The cost of this project is Rs 176 million and it will be completed in three years. The health department of GB will be its sponsoring and executing agency.
Provision of Brach therapy services at NORI Islamabad is the project envisaging procurement of specialized cancer treatment machine along with its required infrastructure and related employees. It will provide diagnostic and therapeutic services at the same place and address the quality assurance issues of treatment modalities. Brach therapy is a type of internal radiation therapy that delivers high doses of radiation from plants placed close to, or inside the tumor in the body. The project will be completed in one year with an estimated cost of Rs 71 million. Nuclear medicine Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute NORI and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission PAEC will be its executing agencies.
COMMUNICATION: The project of construction of central police office (NH & MP) in Mauve Area, G11/1, Islamabad will provide office accommodation to the officers and officials of NH&MP who are currently accommodated in rental buildings in different areas of Islamabad. The primary purpose of this project is to gather all officers and offices under one umbrella. The total cost of the project is Rs 298 million and it will be completed in four years by the end of 2017.
ENERGY: Evacuation of Power from 1200MW RLNG based combined cycle power plant at Haveli Bahadur Shah District Jhang will evacuate 1200MW power and supply to upcountry centers by construction of 500KV transmission line of 28 km from proposed power plant to Lahore South Grid Station. The cost of project is Rs 1616 million and it will be completed in 18 months. The project will be financed through international financing institutions and NTDC's own resources.
Evacuation of power from 1200MW RLNG Based Combined Cycle Power Plant at Balloki District Kasur will evacuate 1,200MW power and supply to upcountry centres by construction of 500KV transmission line of 40km from proposed power plant to Lahore South Grid Station. The cost of project is Rs 3434 million and it will be completed in 18 months.
The project of 30.4MW Jagran-I Hydro Power project envisages transmission line to connect future projects in the Neelum Valley with the grid station. The project is located 90km from Muzzafarabad. Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and GB will sponsor this project. The total cost of this project is Rs 4646 million. The project will help in the electrification of villages in Jagran and its surrounding areas. It will also increase the socio-economic activities.
HEALTH: Establishment of Child Health Care Institute Sukkur is the project which envisages establishment of Children Hospital at Sukkur which will be funded by Economic Development Corporation Fund Govt of Korea through a soft loan. It will provide specialized children services through the facility of 200 indoor beds, OPD with diagnostic and surgical services and academic affiliation with medical colleges and universities. This facility would also provide opportunities for doctors, nursing and paramedic staff in pediatric care and serve as research facility to 500 students and research scholars of medical sciences and on job training to paramedics.-PR