ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved on Thursday 33 projects costing Rs 600 billion for the development of transport, irrigation, food and agriculture, education, health, energy, information technology and cities’ development.
Chairing the ECNEC meeting, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh emphasized the need for improving the monitoring and evaluation of projects to ensure transparency and best utilization of national resources. He asked the Planning Commission to present a detailed plan at the next ECNEC meeting with a rationalized portfolio reflecting balanced regional growth and focus on completion of projects to provide maximum benefits to the citizens.
Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr Nadeemul Haq also emphasized the need for balance between new and ongoing projects for optimisation of available resources. To overcome the power shortage, ECNEC approved five energy related projects costing Rs 81.5 billion. These projects will help to enhance the existing capacity in the system through conservation and efficient distribution efforts.
Four projects of transport and communication costing Rs 96.2 billion were approved, including the import of 150 diesel electric locomotives from US for Pakistan Railways, construction of 162.5 km Kohlu-Sibbi Road, improvement of 167 km Jaglot-Skardu Road and 57 km Motorway (M-4) from Khanewal to Multan. To ensure food security in the country, three projects of agriculture were approved that will help to reduce poverty in the rural areas and enhance existing food grain storage capacity.
To provide healthcare, Prevention and Control of Hepatitis, Expanded Programme on Immunization, National Programme for Family Planning and Primary Health Care and the second phase of the Lady Health Workers’ Programme were approved. Federal ministers, Planning Commission deputy chairman, State Bank of Pakistan governor, prime minister’s special assistants on water and social sector, provincial ministers and representatives of Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir and representatives of sponsoring agencies attended the meeting.
