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ECNEC okays billions of rupees development projects
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ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of National Economic Council, which met here on Monday, accorded approval to a number of proposals on different projects submitted by various departments/agencies of federal and provincial governments. Finance Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired the meeting. At the outset of the ECNEC accorded approval for establishment of “National Endowment Scholarships for Talent” (NEST) at the cost of Rs 10 billion to be met from the PSDPs (2014-18). The proposal was put forth by the Ministry of Planning and Development. Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal said that under the Vision 2025, the GoP is committed to making investment in youth for moving towards a knowledge-based society. In order to cater to the needs of youth, and to promote vertical social mobility, the said Endowment Fund was being created for disbursement of scholarships, covering the needy and talented students of the country to help them pursue quality education. ECNEC after due consideration of a proposal moved by the Ministry of Water & Power approved Acquisition of Land and Resettlement in regard to Diamer Basha Dam Project at a total cost of Rs 101,372 million. The project envisages acquisition of 37,419 acres of land and resettlement of affectees for construction of Bhasha Dam Project. It may be mentioned that original PC-1 of Rs 60 billion on the land rates fixed by the Dy Commissioner Diamer /LAC as per Land Acquisition procedure was approved by ECNEC on 06 November 2008. The affectees did not agree to the rates and the then Prime Minister appointed a ministerial committee for resolution of issues of Diamer Basha Project. The committee after detailed discussion recommended the land rates negotiated with the affectees raising the land and assets cost from Rs 33.5 billion to Rs 49.9 billion with additional settlement measures, the meeting was informed. The additional safeguard measures were incorporated in the revised PC-1 project on recommendations of IFI’s to make the project bankable according to international standards like gender action plan, Cultural Heritage Management Plan, Livelihood Intervention, Business / Livelihood restoration Plan, Social Safety net etc. (Cost increased from Rs 2.4 billion to 8.7 billion.) There was also increase in the length of Right Bank Periphery road from 100 km to 152.8 km (opposite KKH) for the restoration of access of affectees on the right side of River Indus. (Cost increased from Rs 6.0 billion to Rs 11.9 billion). Additional Integrated area development plan like paving of side valley roads and general area electrification network as per IFI’s requirement to provide project benefit to indirect affectees, had additional Cost implication of Rs3.5 billion. Establishment of additional office for land Acquisition & Resettlement led to cost increase from 0.7 billion to Rs 3.6 billion. Thus the total cost of PC-1 has been raised from Rs 60 billion to Rs 101.372 billion. On another proposal submitted by the Ministry of Water and Power, the meeting approved Transmission Scheme (total cost Rs 21,697 million) for Dispersal of Power from Neelum-Jhelum (969 MW), Karot (720MW) and Azad Pattan (650MW) Hydropower Projects. Accordingly 500 KV double circuit transmission lines to respective load centres would be constructed. The meeting considered and approved revised proposal by Ministry of Interior regarding Machine Readable Passport/Machine Readable Visa, Phase-II which would cost a total of Rs 5974.321 million including Rs 2,729.356 million FEC (foreign exchange component). The project envisages opening of 65 Regional Passport Offices within Pakistan and installation of MRP system at 83 Pakistan Missions abroad. The meeting considered and approved Land Record Management & Information System (Phase-I) of Government of Punjab at a total cost of Rs 12,260.480 million including FEC of Rs 11, 366.189 million. No funding in this project from the PSDP is involved and financing will come from Govt. of Punjab’s ADP and the World Bank Loan. The project aims at providing increased access to land records at a lower transaction cost for the beneficiary, through a client-responsive service. The proposal by Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan on Water Supply and Sewerage Scheme, Mirpur City and Other Hamlets in the Periphery of Mangla Dam (revised) was approved at a total cost of Rs 6989.970 million.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk