ISLAMABAD: In a bid to improve facilities at Pak-Afghan border, the government has approved to launch an Integrated Transit Trade Management System (ITTMS) worth Rs31.686 billion.
The system, which got approval during the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) meeting chaired by Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, will help modernise trade and transit facilities at Chaman, Torkhum and Wagha borders. The Asian Development Bank will also give $250 million loan for the project.
The Ecnec meeting also approved Punjab Police Integrated Command Control and Communication (PP-IC3) Programme with the total cost of Rs13.817 billion. This project was approved in principle with the direction that the project cost should be rationalised.
The committee accorded approval for the award of 3000 scholarships to students from Afghanistan under prime minister’s directives. The government will provide Rs4201.541 million for this scheme. The meeting was briefed that up to June 2015 Rs2504.541million were already released for the project.
The committee discussed and approved the Economic Transformation Initiatives in Gilgit-Baltistan. The project entails a total cost of Rs12,315.50 million including $89.98 million soft loan from International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Ecnec also approved “Prime Minister’s Youth Training Scheme 2015-18 at the total cost of Rs23,594.911 million, and land acquisition for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor-related KKH Improvement Project. Islamabad-Raikot section (Phase-I), Havelian-Thakot (120Km) road at the total rationalised cost of Rs6859million. The National Highway Authority will be the executing agency for the project.
The meeting also considered in detail Makhi Farash Link Canal Project (Chotiari phase-II), Sindh for water supply to Thar coal and decided that the federal and provincial governments would share the project cost of Rs10,612.40 million at 50:50 percent.
