ISLAMABAD – Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC)has approved separate projects, including construction of 21-km longdedicated Yellow Bus Rapid Transit-BRT Corridor linking Landhilink to Numaish, 47.55kmPeshawar-Torkham Motorwaylink Projectand interlinking of 220 kV Daharkilink, Rahim Yar Khanlink, Bahawalpurlink and Chishtian link GridStations for improvement of power supply system in southern areas.
The decisions were taken in a meeting of the Economic CoordinationCommittee (ECC) of the Cabinetlink convened here atthe Cabinet link Blockwith Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Adviser to the Prime Ministerlink on Financeand Revenue in the chair, a press release Wednesday said.
The ECNEC approved the construction of Karachilink UrbanMobility Project (Yellow Bus Rapid Transit-BRT Corridor) to be executed bythe Government link of Sindh link at a costlink of Rs 61.439 billionlink.
The project to be funded mainly by the World Banklink would cover adistance of 21 kms (17.6 km at grade and 3.4 km) and start fromlink Korangilink Indtstrial Roadlink Dawood Chowrangi Landhilink, Jam Sadiq Bridgeand passing through KPTlink InterchangeFTC Interchange, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Shahrah-e-Quaideen to Kashmir Roadlink intersection where itwould integrate with Red BRT Corridor.
The project would have 28 stations having facility of 268 buses and some300,000 passengers would benefit fromlink the corridor every day.
The ECNEC also approved with a proviso for formation of a coordinationcommittee between the Federallinkgovernment link andthe Khyber Pakhtunkhwalinkgovernment link foroverview and fiscal discipline, the construction of Peshawar-TorkhamMotorwaylink Projectas component-1 of Khyber Pass Economic Corridor (KPEC) at a rationalisedcost link of Rs 36.705billion link (US$231.10million link) with WorldBank link sharelink of Rs 34.503 billionlink (US$217.24 millionlink) based onpreliminary design.
While the firmed-up costlink of the project wouldbe available after the receipt of bids on Design-Build-Operate/EPC basisfor which the Planning Commission would develop guidelines/standardoperating procedures as well as other innovative mechanism.
The meeting also approved component-II “Economic Development and Uplift ofAreas Adjoining the Motorwaylink” forwhich the Framework Agreementlink to facilitatepreparation and feasibilities through World Banklink had been agreedat a total cost link of Rs8.357 billion link. TheGovernment link of KhyberPakhtunkhwalink wouldsubmit PC-1 envisaged under the component-II after the feasibility anddetailed design.
The ECNEC further approved a project for Interlinking of 220 kV Daharkilink, Rahim Yar Khanlink, Bahawalpurlink and Chishtianlink Grid Stations forimprovement of power supply system in southern areas at a an updated costlink of Rs 15.795 billionlink, including ForeignExchange link Componentof Rs 9.800 billion link toprovide reliable and uninterrupted power to consumers.
The project would improve the reliability and uninterrupted power supply toHESCO and MEPCO link areaswhile the interlinking of R.Y. Khan Grid Station to Daharkilink through 220kVtransmission line would provide backup link between Multanlink, Gudduand Shikarpur link whilethe proposed line fromlink R.Y.Khan to Bahawalpurlink and in/out ofVehari-Chishtian 220 kV single circuit transmission line would provideadditional source of supply to 220 kV Bahawalpurlink and Chishtianlink grid stations.
Among the other projects, the ECNEC approved construction of a four-lane18.98 km long (with embankment for 6 lanes) Expressway on East Bay of Gwadarlink Port at a costlink of Rs 17.369 billionlink with foreignexchange link componentof Rs 16.435 billion link tolink Gwadar link Portwith the Makran Coastal Highway as well as with Gwadarlink Free Zone and futurecontainer terminals.
The project would also have one interchange and four bridges, fourpedestrian overhead bridges along with cross-drainage structures and alliedworks.
ECNEC also accorded approval to Dasu Hydropower Project (Stage-1); Revisionof Cost for Land Acquisition and Built-up Property at a total costlink of Rs 510.980 billionlink, including Rs36.914 billion link forland cost link, anddirected the Planning, Development and Reform Division to issueauthorisation of the revised costlink of land acquisitionand built up property of Dasu Hydropower Project (Stage-1) as recommendedby CDWP and subsequently by ECNEC.
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The ECNEC also approved Lahorelink Waterlink and WastewaterManagement Project-Construction of Surface Waterlink Treatment Plant atBRDB Canal Lahore link ata cost link of Rs 21.045 billion link with Rsforeign exchangelink componentof Rs 19.684 billion link toprovide adequate quantity of safe drinking waterlink to the target areasof Shadipura, Baghbanpura, Fatehgarh and Mustafabad in Lahorelink through a unifiedwater link supply network.
The project would also help maximise the efficiency of the waterlink supply for creatingself-sustaining waterlink zonesand distribution management areas.
In similar decisions, the ECNEC also granted ex-post facto approval to thedevelopment of Phase-1 of Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on EPE/Turnkey mode aswell as a proposal by the Planning Commission for simplification ofdevelopment funds release process, including the release of project-wisefunds (Rupee component) allocated in PSDP to the ongoing approved projectsof Ministries/Divisions during the first week of each quarter as percriteria of the Finance Division (20% in 1st & 2nd Quarter and 30% in 3rdand 4th Quarter) without originating demand by the PAO.
Later in the day, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Adviser to the Prime Ministerlink on Financeand Revenue also chaired a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee(ECC) of the Cabinetlink andapproved a proposal submitted by the Ministry of National foodlink Security and Research for release of150,000 tonnes to the provincial governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwalink as wellas release of 100,000 tonnes to Sindhlink subject to release ofsame link quantity of wheatlink by the latter fromlink its own stockslink.
The ECC further approved a set of proposals submitted by the Ministry ofEnergy for the resolutionlink of issuespertaining to 1124 MW Kohala Hydropower Project, including the minimumecological water link flowof 42 cumecs by maintaining the e-flow of 30 cumecs and releasingadditional flow of 12 cumecs fromlink the spillway,construction of sewage treatment plants and waterlink bodies whose costlink would be included inthe NEPRA link tariff.
The ECC also discussed the issue regarding the Cabinetlink Committee onEnergy’s “Approval of the Settlement of the Settlement of LiquidatedDamages” as referred to it by the Cabinetlink and constituted aCommittee comprising Economic Affairs Minister Hammad Azhar, Advisorto the PrimeMinister link onInstitutional Reforms and Austerity and Special Secretary Finance OmarHamid Khan to examine the matter and firm submit its recommendations to ECC.
To another proposal by the Ministry of Energy, the ECC amended its decisionof 28th August link 2019link to allow proposedsubsidy by the Sindh linkGovernment link infavour of the destitute residents of Islamkot for reflection in theelectricity link billsof 4514 consumers of the area while the Sindhlink governmentlink would makebudgetary provision/allocation for the amount of the proposed subsidy onannual basis for the life of the proposed facility failing which thefacility would be discontinued.
The ECC also approved a proposal of the Ministry of Energy to allow CentralPower Purchasing Agency to approach NEPRAlink for approval ofextension of tariff as agreed between Pakistanlink and Iranlink on 15th Marchlink 2019link for supply of power toMakran Division from link thePower Generation & Transmission Management Companylink (TAVANIR).
To another proposal by the Ministry of Energy for tariff rationalisationfor power sector-quarterly and annual indexation/adjustments ofdistribution margin, the ECC approved a proposal to notify the NEPRAlink approved adjustmentsfor Q-3&4 of FY 2018-19 and annual adjustment/indexation afterincorporating the target quarterly subsidy and additional charge tomaintain uniform tariff.
The ECC further directed for the adjustment to be shown separately in theconsumer bill and applicable for next 12 months effective fromlink Octoberlink 01, 2019link. Similarly, the ECC inorder to fully protect the lifeline and domestic consumer consuming upto300 units, approved the additional charge of Rs0.30 per unit so that theimpact of instant adjustments was not passed on to lifeline and domesticconsumers upto 300 units and at the samelink time the consolidatedrevenue requirement approved and determined by NEPRAlink on 27-9-2019 wasmaintained.
The ECC also approved a technical supplementary grant of Rs 419.154 millionlink to pay courtlink fee and fee toforeign counsels in case of Dr Hilal Hussain At-Tuwairiqi and Al-IttifaqSteel Products Companylink Limited vs IslamicRepublic of Pakistanlink.
