ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) under the chair of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi approved various energy, poverty alleviation, railways and access to justice projects with specific costs, said a press release issued here on Tuesday.
In the meeting held on Tuesday, ECNEC reviewed and approved the Diamer Basha Dam Project (only dam component) at a total rationalised cost of Rs474,000 million.
After the completion of the project, the dam will have a 6.4 MAF live storage capacity and installed power capacity of 4,500 MW. After completion, the project will increase national water storage capacity of Pakistan from 38 days to 45 days and will enhance lifespan on downstream reservoirs, including Tarbela Dam.
Revision of Gawadar-Lasbela Livelihoods Support Project was also approved at a total rationalised cost of Rs2,998.10 million. The project aimed at poverty reduction in two districts of Balochistan i.e. Gawadar and Lasbella, comprises major initiatives, including community development, fisheries development and rural infrastructure improvement.
Evacuation of power from 1320 MW RLNG power plant near Trimmu, Jhang, was also approved at a total rationalised cost of Rs4,231.83 million.
In the meeting, the committee also accorded approval to the revision of the federal programme under ‘Access to Justice Programme’ at a total rationalised cost of Rs4,711.981 million. The ongoing project is aimed at implementing legislative, judicial, police and administrative reforms with the construction of required physical infrastructure including office buildings.
The ECNEC approved the replacement of old and obsolete signal gear from Lodhran-Multan-Khanewal-Shahdara Bagh mainline section of Pakistan Railways (revised) at a total rationalised cost of Rs18,346.60 million. The scope of work of this project also included remodelling of Yousafwala railway station and up-gradation of 24 unmanned railway level crossings into manned ones.
Like many noble deeds that honorable C J P is doing, he may do another favour to the nation if he bans inauguration ceremonies of all kinds. That will save billions of rupees of state exchequer, which has already been made empty.
As far Bhasha Diamer project is concerned, its rationalized cost is so gigantic that even to know that one need the assistance of some known mathematician and the project is moving such a slow motion that only our coming future generations may reap the fruit. m.aslam ch