The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has granted approval to a series of infrastructure development projects, marking a significant step towards enhancing various sectors.
One of the standout projects that gained ECNEC’s endorsement pertains to creating resilient housing in all districts of Balochistan. This initiative, managed by the Ministry of Planning and financed by the World Bank, secured an investment of PKR 43,400 million.
The focus on bolstering housing resilience underscores the commitment to ensuring stable living conditions in the region.
Another notable project given the green light is the Punjab Urban Land Systems Enhancement Project (PULSE), overseen by the Punjab Board of Revenue (BoR) and executed through the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA).
With a revised cost of PKR 26,440.704 million, fully financed by the World Bank, PULSE aims to enhance urban land systems. In alignment with the emphasis on infrastructure development, this project holds the potential to facilitate smoother urban growth and administration.
The ECNEC meeting also marked approval for the ‘Establishment of Regional Grids in Gilgit-Baltistan Phase-I (Revised)’ project, championed by the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit Baltistan. With a rationalized scope and cost of PKR 9,148.509 million, including foreign exchange components, this initiative seeks to fortify the power grid infrastructure in the region, contributing to its energy stability.
Other projects that gained ECNEC’s nod include the dualization of a road in Bahawalnagar district, flood-affected schools’ construction and reconstruction in Sindh, and water-related endeavors such as the construction of the Awaram Dam in Balochistan and the Panjgur Dam project.
The approval of the ‘Sindh Solar Energy Project (SSEP)’ with updated costs signifies progress in the renewable energy sector, reflecting positive developments from the Sindh government initiative.
Chaired by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and attended by key officials from federal ministries and provincial departments, the ECNEC session emphasized the importance of these projects in propelling infrastructure development across various regions.