ECNEC approves development projects worth Rs445bn

Islamabad: Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved various development projects worth Rs445 billion rupees.

According to details, the ECNEC approved the "Prime Minister's Laptop Scheme" to be carried out by the Higher Education Commission in Islamabad at a rationalized cost of more than 16.8 billion rupees during its meeting on Wednesday in Islamabad, which was presided over by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

The committee authorized more than 14.49 billion rupee "Modernization of Hydromet Services of Pakistan Meteorological Department" project.

The conference additionally approved the execution of the "Water Requirement for K-IV Project Improvement of Kalri Baghar Feeder and Keenjhar Lake - Plain Cement Concrete Lining of Karli Baghar Feeder Upper-Phase-I Project" in the Sindhi districts of Jamshoro and Thatta at a cost of more than 39.94 billion rupees. Both the Federal and Sindh governments will contribute equally to the cost of this project.

The Prime Minister's National Programme for Solarization Agriculture Tube Wells Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan also received approval, and inclusion of existing pumping systems on small dams, ponds, rivers, streams, and nullahs serving the same purpose as tube-wells was permitted. These projects had a combined cost of over 17.78 billion rupees.

The ECNEC also approved the "Lahore-Sahiwal-Bahwalnagar Motorway Phase-I" at a cost of over 263.79 billion rupees, "Construction of Khawazakhela-Besham Expressway" at a cost of over 79.13 billion rupees, and "Pakistan Education Fund" at a cost of 14 billion rupees.