ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC), under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, has okayed the revised raise in land acquisition cost for the construction of Diamer Bhasha Dam from Rs60 billion to Rs101.372 billion.
The project envisages acquisition of 37, 419 acres of land and resettlement of affected families for the construction of Bhasha Dam Project. The original PC-1 of Rs60 billion on the land rates fixed by the Deputy Commissioner Diamer/LAC as per Land Acquisition procedure was approved by ECNEC on November 6, 2008. The affected families did not accept the rates and the then prime minister appointed a ministerial committee for the resolution of the issue. The committee after detailed discussion recommended the land rates negotiated with the affected families, raising the land and assets cost from Rs33.5 billion to Rs49.9 billion with additional settlement measures.
The ECNEC meeting also approved several proposals on different projects submitted by various departments of the federal and provincial governments.
The meeting approved the establishment of National Endowment Scholarships for Talent (NEST) at the cost of Rs10 billion.
On another proposal submitted by the ministry of water and power, the meeting approved Transmission Scheme worth Rs21,697 million for Dispersal of Power from 969 MW Neelum-Jhelum, 720MW Karot and 650MW Azad Pattan hydropower projects.
The meeting considered and approved revised proposal by ministry of interior regarding Machine Readable Passport/Machine Readable Visa, Phase-II which would cost Rs5974.321 million including Rs2,729.356 million foreign exchange component. The project envisages opening of 65 regional passport offices within Pakistan and installation of MRP system at 83 Pakistan Missions abroad.
The meeting considered and approved Land Record Management & Information System (Phase-I) of Government of Punjab at a total cost of Rs12,260.480 million including FEC of Rs11, 366.189 million.
The proposal by ministry of Kashmir affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan on water supply and sewerage scheme, Mirpur city and other hamlets in the periphery of Mangla Dam (revised) was approved at a total cost of Rs6989.970 million.
