A meeting of Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Thursday approved Rs 579 billion development projects for water, agriculture, transportation, environment and power sectors. The meeting presided over by Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh considered various proposals presented to it by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms and approved them.
The meeting approved National Programme for Improvement of Watercourse in Pakistan Phase-II to be undertaken in all federating units at a cost of Rs 154.542 billion for capacity building of 76,359 water user associations for participatory irrigation management. The ECNEC also approved eight major projects related to the agriculture sector of around Rs 95 billion - productivity enhancement of wheat with estimated cost Rs 30.455 billion, productivity enhancement of rice, Rs 15.789 billion, productivity enhancement of sugarcane, Rs 4.935 billion, national oilseeds enhancement programme (NOEP), Rs 10.963 billion, cage culture cluster development programme, Rs 9.081 billion, pilot shrimp farming cluster development project, Rs 6.160 billion, water conservation in Barani (arid) areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at an estimated cost of Rs 14.178 billion and Prime Minister's initiative for save the calf, Rs 3.401 billion.
The ECNEC approved Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme Phase-1, up-scaling of Green Pakistan Programme, at a cost of Rs 125.184 billion for plantation of 3.30 billion saplings including 10 % fruit trees across Pakistan to promote eco-tourism, conserve and develop forests and increase income of local people from the sale of forest products. The meeting also approved construction of BRT Red Line Project Karachi at a cost of Rs 78.384 billion to develop a dedicated corridor of 24.2 km from Numaish to Malir Halt Depot and a common corridor of 2.4 km. The meeting was informed that the project would increase quality of public transport, shift motor vehicle users to public transport and reduce traffic congestion in the city. Out of the total 26.6 km length of corridor, 22.45 km would be at grade section, 1.72 km would be elevated and 2.43 km would be underground section, the meeting was further informed. The project also includes construction of 29 bus stations, 8 off-corridor routes, including direct and feeder services, procurement of 199 buses using bio-methane gas from cattle waste as fuel and comprising three types 9m, 12m and 18m, provision of ITS equipment and security systems and allied equipments.
The ECNEC also approved 500 KV HVDC transmission system between Tajikistan and Pakistan for Central Asia-South Asia Transmission Interconnection (CASA-1000) project at a cost of Rs 46.804 billion to provide reliable and uninterrupted power supply to consumers and export any surplus power to other countries. The ECNEC also approved Sehat Sahulat Programme covering 2.7 million families all over Pakistan at a cost of Rs 31.935 billion to improve the health status of the population by providing it quality healthcare and enhancing coverage and access t secondary and priority indoor treatment of the poor and vulnerable population.
In order to improve water resources and quality of sewerage system in Karachi, the ECNEC also approved Karachi Water & Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP) Phase-I at a cost of US $105.21 million (Rs 16.708 billion). The project will facilitate and improve the capacity of Karachi Water & Sewerage Board in the provision of improved water and sanitation services to the residents of Karachi and carry out routine functions of operation and management of infrastructure and facilities.
The ECNEC also approved the Sindh Secondary Education Improvement Programme (SSEIP) to be implemented all over Sindh at a cost of Rs 13.103 billion for the construction of new secondary schools in 160 existing primary schools, to impart training to 2,630 teachers in five major subjects and 485 BISE staff, and to provide lab equipment to 660 schools.
The ECNEC also granted approval to a project for interconnection of isolated Gwadar/Makran area with national grid system of the country with estimated cost of Rs 17.421 billion to provide adequate facilities for reliable and stable supply of power to the Gwadar area.
The ECNEC also approved a proposal for revision of sanctioning powers of ECNEC for considering projects costing over Rs 10 billion and CDWP for projects from Rs 3 billion to Rs 10 billion.