A meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved six projects, worth over Rs 48 billion, for energy, health and education sectors. The ECNEC meeting chaired by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has approved the project 'Revival of Forestry Resources in Pakistan' under Green Pakistan Programme at an estimated cost of Rs 3.652 billion.
The meeting was informed that the project aims at plantation of indigenous and fast growing local tree species along canal/road sides in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, while olive, Kikar and Phulai forests in Kala Chitta, Pabbi Rasul and Fort Monroe areas of Punjab, mangrove forest in Sindh and juniper forest in Balochistan. The project also envisages plantation in GB and AJK to check erosion.
The ECNEC also approved Expanded Programme of Immunisation (EPI) for Balochistan at a total cost of Rs 4.998 billion with foreign exchange component (FEC) Rs 713.93 million. The meeting also approved Expanded Programme of Immunisation (EPI) for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh Immunisation Support Programme (SISP). The KP EPI has been approved at the cost of Rs 6.493 billion including foreign exchange component of Rs 1.26 billion while SISP at a total cost of Rs 8.048 billion including foreign FEC Rs 2.730 billion.
The meeting requested Finance Division to release development funds for already approved 1230MW (Gross) Combined Cycle Power Plant at Haveli Bahadur Shah and 1223MW (Gross) Combined Cycle Power Plant at Balloki.
The meeting of the ECNEC approved Higher Education Commission's proposal of PhD Scholarship Programme under US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor (phase-1) at a rationalised cost of Rs 18.810 billion including FEC Rs 17.714 billion. The meeting was informed that under the segment of US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor, the HEC will send 1,500 PhD students to the top ranking US universities.
The ECNEC directed the HEC to ensure participation of students/scholars from all over the country on merit. The ECNEC also approved HEC proposal for establishment of sub-campuses of public sector universities at district level at a rationalised cost of Rs 5.206 billion.The meeting also approved the compliance report on Neelum-Jhelum Hydroelectric Project with the direction to WAPDA to formulate proper policy guidelines in the light of the Ministry of Water & Power's recommendations and adhere to timelines.