ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 15 projects of national importance costing Rs. 154.52 billion. The committee which was held here on Friday with Federal Minister for Finance, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in the chair has approved 15 projects including seven from Energy sector, four from Transport and Communications and one from Agriculture, Food, Industry, Commerce, Water Resources, Science and Technology and Information Technology sectors each. During the course of the discussion on proposed projects in the meeting, the Finance Minister asked the participants and attendants to devise methods and ways to move ahead without giving an impression that certain violation of any institutions norm is being committed from our part.
He categorically asked all government bodies to refrain embroiling in MoUs with foreign financial organizations without fulfilling the due course of procedure. The projects that were approved have been moved by the Planning Commission after respective line ministries and divisions have sent their summaries to them. The Committee discussed at length the Islamabad Safe City project proposed by the NADRA through the Planning Commission and the Chairman of the Committee Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh asked the NADRA authorities to present their case after devising the cost recovery mechanism, securing price reasonability. The Minister also asked the concerned to ensure transparency so that in future the projects may not fall prey to unnecessary litigations and objections.
The seven projects that were approved by the ECNEC on power sector include Allai Khwar Hydro Project (121 MW) (Revised PC-I), Transmission interconnection for Dispersal of Power from Uch-II Power Project, Rehabilitation of Thermal Power Station Muzaffargarh, 220/132 KV Transformers in NTDC System, Dispersal of Power from 747 MW Power Plant at Guddu, Renewable Energy Development Sector Investment Programme (REDSIP) Revised PC-I and Renewable Energy Development Sector Investment Programme (REDSIP) (Revised). The ECNEC approved four projects from Transport and Communications Sector including Reconstruction/Rehabilitation of assets damaged during 2010 floods, National Highway Improvement Programme (N-5) Revised, Rehabilitation and Construction of damaged Section of NHA Roads Totaling 127.77 km kin the Earthquake affected areas (Revised), Realignment KKH at Barrier Laka, Attabad, Hunza and Gilgit-Baltistan (17 km new-7+Km rehabilitation).
One project each from agriculture and food, industry and commerce, water resources, science and technology and information technology sectors Community Development Project for Rehabilitation of Salt Affected and Water Lodged Lands (Revised), Economic Revitalization in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Construction of Shadi Kaur Dam, Appurtenant Works and Related Irrigation System (Revised PC-I), Allocation of Vacant Slots of HEC indigenous and foreign remaining scholarships as per Federal Government Policy. The meeting was attended by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Mr. Asim Ali Kurd, Minister for Information and Technology, Mr. Arabab Alamgir, Advisor to PM on Agriculture, Mr. Kamal Majeedullah, Dy. Chairman Planning Commission, Secretary Cabinet and concerned secretaries and high officials and NEC Project Director and Member Planning Commission Dr. Samar Mubarakmand. – App
