Govt approves 3,000 scholarships for Afghan students

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council on Friday accorded approval for the award of 3,000 scholarships to students from Afghanistan under the prime minister’s directives.

The council also gave approval for the development of Integrated Transit Trade Management System (ITTMS).

The project will be implemented by the revenue division (FBR) with financing of the Asian Development Bank. The project would cost Rs 31,686.2 million which includes ADB loan of $250 million. Under this project, modern trade and transit facilities will be established at border crossing points at Torkham, Chaman and Wagah.

The ECNEC in consideration of government’s resolve to extend support to the brotherly Islamic country in all important spheres, including education, accorded approval for the award of 3,000 scholarships to students from Afghanistan under the prime minister’s directives. The government of Pakistan is providing Rs 4201.541 million for this scheme. The meeting was briefed that up to June 2015 Rs 2504.541 million were already released for the project.

The committee discussed and approved the “Economic Transformation Initiatives in Gilgit-Baltistan”. The project entails a total cost of Rs 12,315.50 million including US$89.98 million as a soft loan from International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The project is aimed at transformation of the region through improvements in agriculture and land development and farm to market roads in Gilgit-Baltistan. The project also includes value chain development and social mobilization.

The ECNEC also considered the project of “Punjab Police Integrated Command Control and Communication (PP-IC3) Programme” with the total cost of Rs 13,817.699 million. The project was approved in principle with the direction that the project cost should be rationalised.

The ECNEC also considered and approved “Prime Minister’s Youth Training Scheme 2015-18 at the total cost of Rs 23,594.911 million. The ECNEC also considered and approved land acquisition for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, related to KKH improvement project – Islamabad-Raikot Section (Phase-I) Havelian-Thakot (120Km) at the total rationalised cost of 6859 million rupees. The National Highway Authority will be the executing agency for the project.

The ECNEC also considered and approved in principle the Yakmach-Kharan, road project in Balochistan at an estimated cost of Rs 13,758 million. The National Highway Authority will be the executing agency for the project. It would be completed in 24 months. The meeting also considered in detail Makhi Farash Link Canal Project (Chotiari phase-II), Sindh, for water supply to Thar coal. It was decided that the federal and provincial governments would equally share the project cost of Rs 10,612.40 million.

The committee also approved the revision of Shadi Kaur Dam as well Ghabir Dam at Chakwal.