ISLAMABAD: In a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved three projects worth Rs 63.641 billion.
Approved projects include the Kurram Tangi Multipurpose Dam Stage-1 (Kaitu Weir Irrigation and Power) Project, located in North Waziristan, at a reduced cost of Rs 12.662 billion, including the USAID grant in aid of Rs 9.975 billion.
The finance minister said that the project should be placed on a fast track, as it was a must for socio-economic uplift of North Waziristan.
The committee also considered and approved in principle the Revised PC-I of Sindh Water Sector Improvement Project Phase-I in the command area of Ghotki feeder, Nara, Fuleli and Akram Wah canals at a reduced cost of Rs 30.353 billion, including an International Development Agency (IDA) loan of Rs 28.840 billion.
Moreover, the committee also approved Revised PC-I of Gomal Zam Multipurpose Project at rationalised cost of Rs 20.626 billion which include USAID grant in aid of Rs 10.728 billion. It also considered and approved Gomal Zam Command Area Development and On-Farm Water Management for High Value and High Efficiency Agriculture Project, located in DI Khan and Tank districts, at a rationalised cost of Rs 3.73 billion, including USAID grant in aid of Rs 2.2 billion.
The project has been devised to develop the command area of Gomal Zam Dam through 848 cusecs of sustainable irrigation water supply, which will bring 191,139 acres of land under cultivation. The completion date for project is the fiscal year 2014-15.