Rs25 bln earmarked to start construction of Bhasha, Mohmand dams

ISLAMABAD, June 4 (APP):The government has made special allocation to start construction of Bhasha Dam and
Mohmand Dam and enhanced water sector allocation from Rs36 billion to Rs65 billion for
next fiscal year.
Pakistan is facing acute water scarcity requiring special
interventions and that was why authorities concerned increased
allocation to conserve water and its augmentation during 2018-19.
The Annual Development Plan (ADP), highlighting initiatives
under Public Sector Development Programme for next fiscal, on Monday
showed that to start construction of Bhasha Dam and Mohmand Dam,
Rs23 billion and Rs2 billion have been earmarked respectively.
The others water sector projects includes seven new schemes
worth of Rs849 billion to be started in 2018-19 to conserve and
augment water resources. These new schemes are National Flood Protection
Plan-IV, Diamer Basha Dam Project (Dam Part), CRBC 1st lift cum
Gravity Project DI Khan, Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project (Dam Part),
Lining of KB Feeder Upper Canal for Water Supply to Karachi City,
Rehabilitation and Modernization of Sukkur Barrage (90 per cent WB,
10 per cent federal) and Construction of Feeding Canal to Manchar
Lake to eradicate contamination.
Similarly, for fast track development of Special Areas,
Rs62 billion (AJK Rs22 billion, GB Rs15 billion and FATA Rs25
billion), have been allocated. Special Areas have been authorized
to ensure that fruit of development reach to the common man.
Moreover, the document further revealed that an amount of
Rs57 billion have been allocated for Education Programmes
including Higher Education. A few initiatives in the Higher
Education Sector include Enterprise Resource Planning System and
IT Training for 100,000 Youth, Modernization and up-gradation of Labs
in Engineering Universities, Establishment of Center of Excellence
in Cyber Security, Robotics & Automation and Establishment of Center of
Cooperation of Civilizations.
Availability of power has encouraged the entrepreneurs to expand production, thus
creating surplus for export. To display export items and attract importers holding expos is very
important. Beside construction of expo centers in Peshawar, Islamabad and Quetta, expo
center of Karachi costing Rs8,000 million is proposed to be upgraded.
In order to bring FATA in the mainstream, ten years
development plan with total outlay of Rs100 billion has been approved
and during 2018-19, an hefty amount of Rs10 billion has been made for implementation
of the plan.
Engaging youth in productive activities is very important to
keep them away from undesirable activities. Programme to build 100
stadiums all over the country costing Rs2,500 million has been
initiated in consultation with Provincial Governments on 50:50 cost
sharing basis. Similarly, 400 vocational training institutes
on cost sharing basis with the Provincial Governments are proposed
to be set up all over the country. This would bridge the
supply and demand gap of technical manpower required for China
Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.
Special development programme to enhance security and
rehabilitating infrastructure to ease out resettlement of
Temporarily Dislocated Persons (TDPs), initiated during 2015-16,
will continue with an allocation of Rs105 billion.