Ecnec to consider 46 projects

Islamabad: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) will meet on Wednesday (tomorrow) to consider 46 development projects costing around Rs 150 billion. Official said that eight projects were related to energy sector including the Renewable Energy Development Sector Investment Programme (REDSIP) for which the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had already pledged to provide $510 million.

Out of the eight projects in the energy sector four are related to the development of nuclear energy. The project of power import from Iran for Gwadar and border areas in Balochistan costing Rs 3.6 billion would also be considered by Ecnec that will be chaired by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

Besides the above schemes, the other projects in energy sector are Development of Renewable Energy in the NWFP, Fuel Fabrication Plant (FFP), Pakistan Nuclear Power Fuel Complex (PNPFC), Seamless Tube Plant-I, PNPFC, Nuclear Power Fuel Testing Project, PNPFC, Up-gradation of CHASCENT (CHUSNUPP Center of Nuclear Training and Rehabilitation of Jabban Hydro-Electric Power Station.

Under the REDSIP, the planning body would consider the approval of Construction of Marala Hydel Power Station. ADB is promoting the development of renewable energy in Pakistan through a multi-tranche financing facility of up to $510 million.

The program is the first of its kind in Pakistan and also one of the first to be developed under ADB's evolving clean energy and efficiency initiative, through which ADB is planning to expand energy efficiency operations in its developing member countries.

In water resources sector, the projects of Resettlement Action Plan for Mirani Dam Project, Water Conservation and Productivity Enhancement through High Efficiency Irrigation Systems and Sindh Water Sector Improvement Project Phase I.

In the social welfare sector, the scheme of Medical Rehabilitation of the Disabled in Earthquake Affected Areas of AJK and NWFP is on the top Ecnec agenda.

The projects in physical planning and housing sector include Acquisition and Development of Land and Construction of Office Buildings and Accommodation Facilities for Nuclear Power Plant Suppliers of KANUPP-2, Greater Karachi Sewerage Plan (Umbrella PC I.), Procedure for Acquisition of Government Owned Land for various development projects.

Official said that Central Development Working Party (CDWP) in its meeting in July, had recommended a complete ban on intra-departmental sale and purchase of government land for development projects. In its recommendation, the CDWP ruled that land procured by one government department for a specific project, if not used, should be transferred without any cost if required by another department for its project.

Besides this, the National Highway Authority (NHA) will brief the meeting about the review of road construction cost. In transport and communication sector, the project of Sheikh Rashid Expressway and Flood Channel of around Rs 17 billion, Pilot Project of Manufacturing of five 3000 HP Diesel Electric Locomotives. The Ecnec will consider another 11 projects in transport and communication sector.

The Constitution of Board of Director of the Companies incorporated under the Companies Ordinance 1984, and development projects of Pakistan Gems and Jewellery Development Company besides other projects in industries and commerce. There are four development projects of the Higher Education Commission. In food and agriculture sector, the projects which will be taken up by Ecnec are the White Revolution (Doodh Darya), National Programme for the Control and Prevention of Avian Influenza and Aquaculture and Shrimp Farming.