A meeting of the Executive Committee of National Economic Council on Friday approved 14 development projects of energy, communication and social sectors, etc to the tune of over Rs 204 billion. The meeting presided over by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi approved construction of new 220kv Guddu-Sibbi single circuit transmission line for improvement of power supply system in south areas at a total rationalized cost of Rs 8.366 billion, 500 kv Lahore North Substation along with associated transmission lines at a total rationalized cost of Rs 20.732 billion and evacuation of power from 1410MW Terbela 5th Extension hydro power project at a total rationalized cost of Rs 4.14 billion.
The meeting also approved evacuation of power from 1224 MW wind power project at Jhimpir cluster at a total rationalized cost of Rs 10.752 billion.
The ECNEC approved Prime Minister''s Laptop Scheme (Phase-III) at a total revised cost of Rs 21.335 billion. The Prime Minister directed HEC to prepare ''Laptop-for-all Program'' that shall provide laptops to all eligible students and extension of Water Resources for Faisalabad City (Phase-II) project at a total rationalized cost of Rs 14.636 billion.
The meeting also approved Punjab Intermediate Cities Improvement Investment Program in Sahiwal and Sialkot at a total rationalized cost of Rs 26.325 billion. The meeting also approved award of 3,000 Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships to Afghan students by HEC at a total rationalized cost of Rs 7.352 billion. The Prime Minister directed HEC to complete the project within 3 years instead of 5 years ie 1000 scholarships per year.
Rehabilitation/up-gradation and widening of Quetta-Dhadher Section of N-65 (118.322km) at a total rationalized cost of Rs 7.115 billion was also approved by the ECNEC as well as construction for improvement and widening of Chitral- Ayun-Bumborate Road (48km) at a total rationalized cost of Rs 4.6 billion. The Prime Minister directed the KP government to ensure cultural preservation of the Kalash tribe in collaboration with civil society and non-governmental organizations.
The meeting approved design, tendering assistance and construction of Malakand Tunnel project at a total revised cost of Rs 16.554 billion, procurement / manufacturing of 820 high capacity bogie freight wagons and 230 passenger coaches for Pakistan Railways at a total rationalized cost of Rs 31.194 billion, procurement/construction of 6 Maritime Patrol Vessels (MPVs) for Pakistan Maritime Security Agency at a revised cost of Rs 16.28 billion as well as construction of Garuk Storage Dam, District Kharan, Balochistan, at a total rationalized cost of Rs 10.511 billion and establishment of Combined Effluent Treatment Plants for industrial areas of Karachi, including laying of interceptor sewers, at a total cost of Rs 11.799 billion.