The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved financial grants for Karachi’s development projects along with Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) programmes.
As per details, ECNEC in its meeting headed by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has approved financial grant for Karachi’s Greater Karachi Water Supply Scheme (K-IV) 260 MGD (phase-1) at the total cost of Rs. 25,551.77 million, providing additional 260 MGD water to the metropolitan city.
The meeting also approved Solid Waste Emergency and Efficiency Project (SWEEP) project ith a total cost of Rs 16,800 million including IBRD-World Bank loan of Rs 16,000 million. The project is sponsored by Sindh government’s Housing and Town Planning Department.
HEC
The ECNEC meeting also approved Rs13.3 billion for an advanced skill development programme of HEC which will focus on advanced skill development through International Scholarship Phase-1 for master’s and PhD programmes.
The financial grant approval comes as earlier Central Development Working Party (CDWP) had approved the revised PC-1 of the “Advanced Skills Development through International Scholarships- Phase I” back in March 2020 last year.
Pakistan-China OFC
A grant of Rs 37,915.899 million has also been approved for the phase 2 of Pak-China Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) Project for the establishment of cross-border OFC network (Khunjerab-Karachi) along China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) routes.
Balochistan Dams
Rs 13,512.725 million have been approved for the construction of 100 dams in Balochistan over the course of three years.
Natural Calamities Control Program
Rs 70 billion are to be allocated for the response against natural calamities. The funding will also cater to the efforts against COVID-19 outbreak in the country.
The grant will also be used for National Health up-gradation program, National program for Water and Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).
Gwadar-Ratodero Road
A total of Rs 38,026 million have been approved Gwadar-Ratodero Road Project (M-8). The project is sponsored by Ministry of Communication. The road will be constructed by National Highway Authority (NHA).
