ECNEC approves development projects worth billions of rupees

ECNEC approves development projects worth billions of rupees
ECNEC approves development projects worth billions of rupees

ISLAMABAD, Aug 22 (APP): The Executive Committee of
the National Economic Council (ECNEC) here on Monday approved a number of development projects costing billions of rupees across the country.

The ECNEC was held, under the chairmanship of Federal
Minister for Finance Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, here at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.

ECNEC considered and approved Balochistan Integrated
Water Resource Management and Development Project (BIWRMDP) at an updated cost of Rs 22,165 million, said a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance.

The project is highly important as it is located on Nari
and Porali River Basins. The project will cover almost one fourth of the Balochistan area and provide multiple benefits to the people of Balochistan like; providing clean drinking water facility, reducing the risk of floods, less erosion, more fuel wood, more fodder for livestock and saving endangered forests for mangroves and juniper and enhanced agriculture productivity.

The project was found essential for water sector of Balochistan as it aims at vital requirement like hydro meteorological installations, flood protection works and institutional capacity building.

The project cost also includes US$ 200 million as foreign
aid from IDA. The project will take 6 years to complete.
The ECNEC also considered and approved the Lowari Road
Tunnel and Access Road Project at the revised cost of Rs 26,
855 million. The project is expected to complete by October 2017.

The revision of cost is the result of the increase in the
scope of work of the project which includes the increase in the width of the tunnel from 6 meter to 7.5 meter with clear height of 5 meters.

The scope of work also includes provision of
ventilation and electrical works for road tunnel, construction
of platforms, operational buildings along with allied facilities, installations and equipment for snow clearing. The cost of the project also includes FEC of Rs 5870 million.

The National Highway Authority (NHA) would be the
executing authority for the project.

Equally important and related to Lowari Tunnel
project, “Improvement and widening of N 45 (130.22 km) Project” also got approval from ECNEC at the revised cost of Rs 17,423 million.

The project is located at Chakdara, Timergara, Akhagram,
Dir Kalkatak, Chitral. Both Lowari Tunnel project and N 45
project will prove to be a strategic asset for Pakistan.

These will go a long way in development of the area
and providing better facilities to the public.

Another project in KP which was approved is Construction of
Burhan Havelian Expressway (E 35) 59.1 km (Revised) at the revised PC cost of Rs 34,165.million. The project is expected to be completed by September 2017.

The cost of the project is revised due to addition of 3rd
lane on either side of the already ongoing project for construction of 59.1 km limited access controlled four lane divided facility/motorway with service roads on either side along a new alignment with allied structures/facilities.

The revised project is being funded through Asian
Development Bank (ADB) loan of US$200 million.
The ADB also agreed to provide remaining loan amount
for additional scope of work.

The Finance Minister of KP, Muzafar Said, on the occasion
thanked the Government of PM Nawaz Sharif for expediting work on the projects as they are of vital importance to the province.

The ECNEC also considered and approved “Installation of Ship lift and Transfer System and Associated Machinery and Equipment to provide Docking and repair Facilities to surface Ships, Submarines and Commercial Vessels” at Karachi Shipyard at the revised and rationalized cost of Rs 9563 million including FEC of Rs 3,644 million.

The facility will cater to commercial vessels up to 7781 tons
of dead weight net lifting capacity along with establishment of 13 fully equipped repair stations. The project will be
completed by September 2017 as it is already in progress.

The ECNEC also approved construction of Lahore
• Sialkot Motorway (89 km) at the total cost of 45,382 million rupees. The project will complete in 27 months (September 2016 to December 2018).

The project envisages construction of 89 km, 4 lanes
access controlled motorway with 0.6 m New Jersey Barrier as median with allied facilities.

The project will be operated on BOT basis.

The ECNEC also approved “Procurement of 75 Diesel
Electric Locomotives” at the total cost of 45,496 million with
FEC of 31,729.490 million rupees.

These would be completely built units used for
operation in freight/passenger operations.

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