ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan’s highest authority for making development spending decisions authorised seven large projects worth Rs91 billion on Thursday, including the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government funded 69MW Lawi hydropower project, despite concerns over its high price tag.
Headed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) also deferred approval of the Lyari Expressway Project because the Sindh government has yet to remove the squatters from the land on the expressway’s outer side.
Dar directed the planning ministry, the communication ministry, and the Sindh government to remove all impediments hindering the Expressway project and present a report in the next meeting.
ECNEC approved the 69 MW Lawi Hydropower Project, projected to cost Rs20.1 billion, including foreign loans worth Rs4.2 billion. However, the planning ministry raised objections over the cost of the project, which it said was extremely high when compared with other similar projects.
