Gilgit-Baltistan: Realignment KKH at Barrier Laka, Attabad, Hunza, and GB

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) held here on Friday with the Federal Minister for Finance, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in the chair has approved 15 projects of national importance costing Rs.154.52 billion.The projects that have been accorded approval include seven from Energy, 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 projects are seven from the power sector, four from the transportation sector, two from the Science and Technology and one each from the agriculture and food, industry and commerce and water resources.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 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 are: a) Allai Khwar Hydro Project (121 MW) (Revised PC-I)b) Transmission interconnection for Dispersal of Power from Uch-II Power Projectc) Rehablitation of Thermal Power Station Muzaffargarhd) 220/132 KV Transformers in NTDC Systeme) Dispersal of Power from 747 MW Power Plant at Gudduf) Renewable Energy Development Sector Investment Programme (REDSIP) Revised PC-Ig) Renewable Energy Development Sector Investment Programme (REDSIP) (Revised)The four projects approved by ECNEC from Transport and Communications Sector are:a)  Reconstruction/Rehabilitation of assets damaged during 2010 floodsb) National Highway Improvement Programme (N-5) Revisedc)  Rehabilitation and Construction of damaged Section of NHA Roads Totaling 127.77 km kin the Earthquake affected areas (Revised)d) 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, waterresources, science and technology and information technology sectors are:a)  Community Development Project for Rehabilitation of Salt Affected and Water Lodged Lands (Revised)b) Economic Revitalization in Khyber Pakhtunkhawac)  Construction of Shadi Kaur Dam, Appurtenant Works and Related Irrigation System (Revised PC-I).