Pakistan's Infrastructure & Development- Updates & Discussions.

[Omar1984]

Inauguration of Pak-Afghan JEC 8th Session: JEC for import of 1,000 MW from CARs

* Also decides to create road link between Pakistan and Tajikistan via Afghanistan

* Afghan side requests release of 700 containers blocked in Pakistan

By Sajid Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: Finance ministers from Pakistan and Afghanistan decided to lay down a ‘time bound road map’ of the steps for enhancing cooperation between the two neighbouring countries, especially import of 1,000 megawatts power and gas from Central Asian Republics (CARs) and road link between Pakistan and Tajikistan via Afghanistan.

Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and Afghan Finance Minister Dr Hazrat Omer Zakhilwal discussed this during the inauguration of the Pakistan and Afghanistan Joint Economic Commission 8th Session, which started here on Monday.

Pakistan has agreed to confirm the status of 700 Afghan commercial cargo containers for their release on priority basis, as Afghan side has raised the issue of blockade of their 700 containers and informed Pakistani authorities that these containers belong to Afghanistan’s private sector and not to the NATO or ISAF, official sources informed.

The Federal Board of Revenue chairman has been directed to confirm the status of the 700 containers so a decision on their release could be taken immediately, added the sources.

The agenda of the JEC included bilateral trade with special focus on review of trade, measures to enhance bilateral trade, problems and issues related to private sector and traders of both the countries. In the area of transit trade facilitation, the JEC would review the current status of implementation of Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA).

Transit trade facilitation: Current status of implementation of APTTA, signed in October 2010 will be reviewed, road link between Pakistan and Tajikistan via Afghanistan, $300 million Pakistan’s grant, development projects initiated under grant from Pakistan, current status of projects initiated under Afghanistan-Pakistan G-8 Initiative, establishment of Joint Cooperation Mechanism to initiate and implement development projects, new projects and proposals, technical assistance capacity building, scholarship scheme for Afghan students, training in commercial banking, custom training, police training, postal training, training in audit and accounts, deepening of economic cooperation, cooperation in communication sector, status of CASA 1000 Power Transmission Project, cooperation in industrial and engineering sectors, investment in natural resources in Afghanistan, petroleum and natural resources, cooperation in education sector, cooperation in information and media cooperation, agreement in the areas of culture and arts and cooperation agreement in the area of tourism.

After the inaugural session, while talking to reporters Zakhilwal said that APTTA is a big agreement and there would arise issues on its implementation and we are here to discuss these issues as well as other measures for enhancing trade volume and cooperation between private sectors of both the countries. He informed that 70 percent work on Torkam Jalalabad road is completed and we are now discussing resource mobilisation for completion of remaining 30 percent. He informed that the second phase of this project would link Jalalabad to Kabul and completion of which would help facilitate bilateral trade.

Shaikh informed the reporters that JEC would be focusing on four key areas for enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. In the trade areas, the minister said that JEC will discuss issues on implementation of APTTA, insurance guarantee for Afghan importers, border crossing for trade purposes and trade safeguards to make trade easy for the trading community. JEC would also be discussing projects completed in the past, and resource mobilisation for completion of Torkam Jalalabad road. He also informed that JEC would also discuss issues relating to regional integration for promoting cooperation in gas and power import, increasing transport and communication links.

Shaikh informed that both the ministers have directed the technical experts of both sides to be pro-active and finalise a technically feasible plan for the initiatives to help easy implementation of these measures by the political leadership of the countries.

The minister further informed that both sides have agreed to facilitate private sectors of both sides to work together for exploiting the potential in mining, construction, hydro-power and other areas of mutual interest. He admitted that both countries have not done much to facilitate the private sector in the past. He informed that to promote the regional economic cooperation, Pakistan would host regional conference with the help of World Bank in May 2012 and some viable proposals would be finalised in this regard. JEC will conclude today (Tuesday) and some key decisions are expected to be announced.



Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[SHAMK9]

Bus Rapid Transit System project: People to have safe, speedy transport facilities: shahbaz

* CM says provision of comfortable, quality transport facilities to masses top priority of govt

People will be able to have safe and speedy transport facilities after completion of the Bus Rapid Transit System project, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday.

He said this while presiding over a meeting to review the pace of progress of Bus Rapid Transit System project and the provision of transport facilities to the people.

Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that provision of comfortable and quality transport facilities to the masses was the top priority of the government, and solid steps had been taken for that purpose. He said that a 27-kilometre-long track from Shahdara to Gajjumata would be laid in the first phase of the project.

He said modern transport service had been started in the metropolis, and its scope would soon be extended to other big cities of the province.

On the occasion, Lahore Development Authority Director General Abdul Jabbar Shaheen gave a detailed briefing regarding the progress of the project.

Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz Sharif said that on the pattern of developed countries, transport system was being organised on modern lines in Lahore and other big cities of the province.

He said work on the Bus Rapid Transit System project had been started with the cooperation of Turkey, which, upon its completion, would speak volumes of the Pak-Turk friendship.

He said that like other development projects, the Bus Rapid Transit System project would be completed speedily in a transparent manner by working round the clock.

He said that in the first phase, track would be laid from General Hospital to Kalma Chowk; in the second phase, from Gajjumata to General Hospital; and in the third phase, from Shahdara to Kalma Chowk.

He said it was an important project, and no delay in its completion would be tolerated.

On the occasion, he formed a committee, headed by Member of the Provincial Assembly Mehr Ishtiaq Ahmad, for early completion of the project.

He said that an effective system should be evolved to ensure smooth flow of traffic during the construction of the project and people should not face any difficulty in this regard.

He directed the officials concerned to evolve a vigorous publicity plan to create awareness among the people about the importance of bus rapid transit so that maximum citizens could benefit from it.

Earlier, the LDA director general, while informing the meeting about the progress of the project, said that work on laying of track from General Hospital to Kalma Chowk was in progress. Members of the National Assembly Mian Marghoob Ahmad and Bilal Yasin, Lahore Transport Company Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hasaan, the Planning and Development chairman, the transport secretary, the Lahore district coordination officer and other officers concerned were present at the meeting.

 

[Omar1984]

Rs9bn WB funds for KPT


Minister for Ports and Shipping Senator Babar Khan Ghauri said at ground breaking ceremony that the World Bank funding of Rs9 billion for reconstruction of six berths at the Karachi Port is a strong indicator that vibrant institutions, such as KPT, are not on the negative list of world financial institutions.

He said most of the institutions, run by the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, including Pakistan Shipping Corporation (PNSC), KPT and Port Qasim, are making huge profits and are actively contributing to economic growth.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony for the project of reconstruction of berths 15 to 17A, including ship repair berths, 1 and 2, where the prime minister was the chief guest, the minister said that these institutions have made huge profit of Rs18 billion in the last financial year.

He further said that if people work hard, all growth targets could be achieved.

Such achievements, the minister said, are a ray of hope for the nation, particularly when huge national institutions, like Pakistan International Airlines, Pakistan Steel and Railways, etc., are not only incurring huge losses but are also on the verge of collapse.

He disclosed that the Ministry of Ports and Shipping had constructed a civic centre at Gwadar port and hoped that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani would inaugurate it next month.


The secretary of ports and shipping, Agha Syed Raza Qazilbash, said that 922-meter long berths having 16-meter depth would provide berthing to post Panamax container vessels having 70,000dwt weight, 280 meters length and 13.8 meters draft.

Similarly, he said bulk carriers having 100,000dwt weight, 255 meters length and 15.3 meters draft would also be berthed.

KPT chairman Mohammad Aslam Hayat said that the KPT attracted $1 billion direct foreign investment (***) during the last four years.

Such mega projects, including deep water container port, attracted *** to the tune of $457 million and $105 million for Karachi International Container Terminal.

The KPT also received $75 million in respect of Pakistan International Container Terminal and Rs1 billion for development of KPT food street.

He further said that in order to improve operational capability of the port, KPT recently acquired two shipping tugs worth Euro 16.20 million, one dismountable dredger costing Euros 2.23 million and also added two pusher tugs, costing Rs369.09 million to its fleet.

Aslam Hayat said that the KPT is well aware of its social obligation towards city and recently purchased two passenger boats for commuters between Karachi and Manora at a cost of $2.345 million each.

Similarly, he said KPT plans to construct Karachi Harbour Crossing bridge, which will ease traffic congestion in the city by providing connectivity with Northern Bypass and Lyari Expressway via Manora and a cargo village is also being constructed at an estimated cost of $600 million for which financing has been sought from Asian Development Bank.

The KPT, he said, also plans to develop recreational facilities at Oyster Rock breakwater for citizens of Karachi.


http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/19/rs9bn-wb-funds-for-kpt-berths-reconstruction.html

 

[Omar1984]

UAE-funded Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Bridge to open next week

The UAE-funded Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Bridge, which was built in the Pakistan’s Swat region to link a large number of cities and villages on the two banks of the Swat River, will be opened early next week under directives from the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

In December 2010, the foundation stone was laid for the US$ 12.4 million project to replace the original, 40-year-old bridge which had been destroyed by the country’s worst floods.

The Shaikh Khalifa Bridge, 330 metres long, 10 metres wide and 6 meters high, is part of the UAE’s development and humanitarian efforts to support friendly countries.

“The new bridge which accommodates more than 5000 vehicles a day will serve 70000 people in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province north-west of Pakistan,” Director Pakistan Assistance Program Abdullah Khalifa Al Ghafli said.

The highest internationally recognized architectural and technical standards and specifications were used in construction of the project. All the metal components of the bridge were manufactured in the UK. Special anti-erosion, anti-rust and humidity-resistant concrete was used to build the anti-earthquake structure which is also resistant to floods.

UAE-funded Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Bridge to open next week

 

[Omar1984]

New Ayub Bridge in Swat. Completed few months ago by Pak Army and FWO.

 

[Omar1984]

Azad Jammu and Kashmir:

Gilani lays foundation stone of 3-km long bridge

MIRPUR (AJK) Mar 12 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Monday laid the foundation stone for the Meran Shah Bridge that would lessen the distance by 21 km between Mirpur and Islamgarh. The 3 km long bridge across the Mangla reservoir would cost Rs 4.2 billion and would have two km long approach roads on either sides. The project scheduled to be completed in May 2013, would reduce the 28-kilometer distance between Mirpur and Islamgarh to 7 kilometers. Prime Minister Gilani was accompanied by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan, Minister for Kashmir Affairs Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, President AJK Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan and Prime Minister AJK Ch Abdul Majeed.


Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) - Gilani lays foundation stone of 3-km long bridge

 

[Hyde]

PTA to hire international consultant for 3G license auction

Full news: PTA to hire international consultant for 3G license auction

 

[Al Bhatti]

Welcome to UAEPAP

 

[Al Bhatti]

June 23, 2012

UAE opens 40 schools in Pakistan

Nearly 21,000 boys and girls have already begun classes

Upon the directives of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Project to Assist Pakistan has completed 40 world-class schools and institutes and handed them over to the local authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.

Nearly 21,000 boys and girls have already started classes.

A grand opening ceremony was held at one of the boys’ schools in the presence of Abdullah Khalifa Al Ghafli, Director of the Project, Major General Zahir Shah, Commander of the GOC 45th Engineers Division of the Pakistani Armed Forces, a group of Pakistani army commanders and senior government officials.

Al Ghafli and the senior accompanying civilian and military officials unveiled the memorial plaque declaring the official opening of the school and then paid tribute to Shaikh Khalifa for the grant which constitutes a necessary, qualitative addition for improving and upgrading the education sector infrastructure in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. They also toured the school building where they inspected classes, scientific and computer laboratories, sports facilities and other support services.

They also met the school principal and teaching and administrative staff.

Al Ghafli also opened another school for girls and toured its various sections.
The Project, which focuses on four major sectors: ‑ education, public health, roads and bridges‑ comes within the framework of the efforts by the UAE to help Arab and Islamic countries as one of the leading donors in the field of humanitarian aid and international development around the world.

A batch of school bags were also distributed to the students as part of an Emirati School Bags project for the benefit of Pakistani students in different locations around the country with a target of 30,000 school bags.

Al Ghafli said that Shaikh Khalifa’s directives have also resulted in the building and rehabilitation of 53 schools and colleges at a cost of $27.634 million (Dh101.41 million) to accommodate between 25,000-28,000 students.

Al Ghafli also announced the start of implementation of Shaikh Khalifa’s directives which include building two model schools, one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the other in south Waziristan at a cost of $500,000 for each school.

Abdullah Al Ghafli, Director of the Project along with officials during the opening ceremony.


gulfnews : UAE opens 40 schools in Pakistan

 

[A.Rafay]

2.9 KM Malakand Tunnel to be build soon

ISLAMABAD - The National Highway Authority has done a feasibility study for the construction of Malakand tunnel to provide a short route for the people of Malakand, Upper Dir, Lower Dir and Swat. A Korean Company, M/s Chunil, prepared the feasibility study of the 2.9-kilometre-long tunnel. Malakand Pass lies between Dargai-Batkhela and is situated at an altitude of 470 metres and 663 metres, respectively. A tunnel is needed at this site as the existing road traverses steep gradients and dangerous winding curves with various recurring land slides. This makes movement of freight carriers difficult besides causing extra-consumption, breakdowns and accidents. It may be mentioned here that the then president of Pakistan, during his visit to Swat in 2005, had directed the Ministry of Communications to conduct feasibility for Malakand tunnel. The feasibility conducted by M/s Chunil Engineering Consultants of South Korea studied three alignments. The recommended alignment envisages Dargai as starting point of the tunnel and Batkhela as end point. It also envisages road tunnels of 3.172km, two-lane 8.663km road and three bridges of 152.5 metres on each carriageway.
PC-1 for Phase-I, including design, construction and supervision of Rs 9.043 billion was approved by ECNEC in May 2011. In November 2011, a meeting between representatives of Exim Bank of South Korea, Economic Affairs Division, Ministry of Communications and NHA was held in which financing of the project was agreed upon and Exim Bank showed its readiness to provide $ 78 million loan for the purpose. The tunnel will provide a short route not only to people of Dir, Malakand and Swat and adjacent localities but would also be an easy access to Central Asian States, providing the market access to the country for its products.
The National Highway Authority has opined that at the time when Lowari tunnel is being constructed, it would not be much useful to start work on Malakand tunnel. However, the public representatives of the areas think otherwise. Talking to APP, Awami National Party Senator Zahid Khan said that Malakand tunnel was not less important than the Lowari tunnel. If Lowari tunnel provides all-weather road access to the people of only district Chitral, Malakand tunnel will prove an alternate short route to the people of four districts.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Senator Nisar Muhammad was of the view that linking Malakand tunnel to the completion of Lowari tunnel was unfortunate. He said that if a donor was ready to invest in this project, the NHA should start work on this project, otherwise the loan offer may be withdrawn as Korea may not be ready to shift the amount towards Lowari tunnel.
In January, Korean government had pledged $78 million through Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) for the construction of a 9.7 km Malakand Tunnel project. The loan provided by Korea was to be administrated by Exim Bank of Korea having nominal interest rate of 0.1 percent per annum with maturity period of 40 years including a grace period of 10 years.

 

[A.Rafay]

Projects worth Rs16.44 billion Inaugurated In Multan

MULTAN - The town is going to get 10 development projects worth Rs16.44 billion as Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is due here to inaugurate these projects on Tuesday (today).
The projects include an Agriculture University that will be set up at a cost of Rs3 billion, an Engineering University Rs3 billion, District Headquarters Hospital Rs2.68 billion, Kidney Centre Rs1.27 billion, widening of road from Bahawalpur bypass to Chungi No-9 Rs4.5 billion, Chowk Shah Abbas flyover Rs1.13 billion, Nawaz Sharif General Hospital Rs380 million, Hockey Stadium Rs250 million, Football Stadium Rs120 million and Girls Degree College Rs110 million.


The Chief Minister is likely to arrive at7:00am by his special plane and he would inaugurate all the projects one after one in a marathon run till 2:00 pm before his departure for Lahore.
PML-N MNA from NA-150 Rana Mahmoodul Hassan told this scribe that the provincial government had located and allocated land for the said universities. “The Engineering University is currently being set up in the building of Technology College in Qasimpur Colony and initially admissions to five disciplines will be offered,” he added. The disciplines include Mechanical, Chemical, Electronics, Electrical and Textile Engineering. He further disclosed that the entire Pak-German Institute and 565 kanal land in Chak 5-Faiz, another 150 acres in Chak 6-Faiz and the building of Vocational College were given to the varsity.


Referring to the Agricultural University, he revealed that acres on Old Shujabad Road, 73 acres of Auqaf Department in Makhdoom Rasheed and 400 acres in Jalalpur Pirwala were allocated for this varsity. He said that the varsity would be having Departments of Agronomy, Environmental Sciences, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Plant Pathology, Forestry and Range Management and Agriculture Extension as well as Institutes of Soil and Plant Nutrition and Horticultural Sciences under Faculty of Agriculture. Similarly, Faculty of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Faculty of Basic Sciences would also be established.


“Initially 150 students will be given admission in BSc (Hons.) Agriculture class for 2012-13 session and after the completion of four semesters they will be distributed into different disciplines of agriculture,” he gave further details. Giving details of chief Minister’s visit, he said that Mian Shahbaz Sharif would go to his tent office at Sports Ground after reaching Multan and receive briefings on WASA, MDA projects as well as law and order situation.


Then he will leave for Circuit where he is scheduled to inaugurate new Mass Transit System and Students Green Card Scheme. Afterwards the CM will inaugurate newly constructed Old Bahwalpur Road, and leave for Southern By-pass from where he would go for Chowk Nag shah to perform ground breaking of DHQ Hospital. The Chief Minister will also perform ground breaking of Bahawalpur Chowk to Chungi No-9 Road, Degree College Chungi No-14 and Chowk Shahbaz Flyover. Then he will come to Qasimpur Colony Technology College where he is scheduled to address a public meeting. He will also visit a crown failure site at Vehari Chowk, perform ground breaking of football and hockey stadiums as well as sports complex at Qila Qasim Bagh, inaugurate Nawaz Sharif General Hospital and leave for Lahore.

 

[A.Rafay]

Punjab government High on projects, low on money

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is scheduled to launch two big projects in the city on Tuesday – an Institute of Urology and Kidney Transplant at Shamsabad and a flyover at the 6th Road. But where is the money?

Dawn has learned that spade-work has been done on both the projects when the Rs1.017 billion flyover does not even figure on the Punjab government’s development programme for 2012-13.

Although the other does, the National Logistic Cell (NLC) is executing the Rs2 billion project just on a promise.

Even more intriguing sounds the information that the province’s communications and works department is yet to send the so-called ‘summary’ of the flyover project to the chief minister for approval.

“If the project is not there in the annual development programme, the chief minister can give special approval for such projects,” explained an official of the City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR). After all the NLC started executing its Urology Institute contract “on the promise” that funds would flow after the Chief Minister approves the summary, he reminded.

Not just that, the official said the NLC had met the request of the Punjab government to start work on the project of Peshawar Road Expansion from Chur Chowk to Chairing Cross without any down-payment.

Since the funds allocated for the Institute of Urology and Kidney Transplant in the 2012-13 annual development programme were “not available with the government now”, he said the project will be formally undertaken next year.

District Coordination Officer Saqib Zafar admitted to Dawn that funds had not been allocated but said the matter was not of public concern.

“You don’t worry about this issue. The provincial government has managed to start the projects. There is no need to go in to the details how they managed it,” he said.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif will also inaugurate Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC), though its hospital part is not yet complete.

The local administration opened its Outpatients Department recently without necessary machinery being there.

Medical circles said major pathological and Echo tests facility is not available there.

Even the six watchmen needed to guard whatever equipment is there in the RIC had to be borrowed from its three allied hospitals. RIC’s Medical Superintendent, Dr. Mohammad Arshad, informed that “the in-patient department of the hospital will start working in December after needed machinery is installed”.

Angiography and angioplasty facilities will be provided in the third phase of the project next year, he added.

A local PML-N leader, requesting anonymity, told Dawn that all these projects were located in the constituency of NA-56 of PML-N MNA Hanif Abbasi who is fearing arrest in ephedrine quota scandal case. He is currently enjoying interim bail.

Additionally, the law and order situation in the constituency, as elsewhere in the city, has been rocked by the protests against the blasphemous movie. “It was not the right time to invite the chief minister to the city,” said the leader who wished not to be identified.

 

[MM_Haider]

Ecnec approves Rs246.6 bn for Karachi


Ecnec approves Rs246.6 bn for Karachi - thenews.com.pk

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) that met here on Thursday with federal minister for finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in the chair approved the Rs246.588 billion Karachi Circular Railway project.

The project envisages the revival of the existing Karachi Circular Railway by proposing dualisation of the 29.41 km long KCR loop and provision of two 13.69 km long dedicated tracks along the Pakistan Railways UP main line for the Karachi city station of Drigh Road with a total route length of about 43.12 km and track length of 86.24 km.

The committee approved the scheme because of the low interest rate proposed by JICA. Moreover, it has asked the Sindh government for full coordination with the ministry of railways for early execution of the project.

While keeping in view the need for the development of FATA, the Ecnec also gave an anticipatory approval for the Munda dam project. The Ecnec, in all, approved 45 projects of paramount importance that also include the construction of 26 dams under package-II at a cost of Rs4.647billion as part of the construction of 100 Delayed Action Dams in Balochistan

The other projects that were accorded approval include Procurement/manufacture of 500 high capacity bogies/ wagons & 40 high speed power vans, costing Rs11.998 billion (PSDP-funded); special repairs of 150 diesel electric locomotives costing Rs5,005 million (PSDP- funded); mechanisation of track maintenance (pilot project), costing Rs4,055 million (PSDP-funded); Khyber Pakhtunkhwa road development sector & sub-regional connectivity project (provincial component), costing Rs12,982 million (co-funded by provincial ADP and ADB); M-4/N-70 Motorway (8 km) widening/improvement of intervening road between flyovers at double phattak and chowk Nag Shah at Multan, costing Rs4,028.500 million (PSDP-funded); management of hill ******** in CRBC area (Stage-III), Dera Ghazi Khan, costing Rs2225.735 million; procurement of machinery for rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure, costing Rs1,550 million, Punjab Irrigated Agriculture Productivity Improvement Project (PIPIP), costing Rs36,000.705 million (Word Bank and community/farmers contributions in funding); Bazai Irrigation Scheme Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, costing Rs3400.661 million; remodelling of S.M.B Link Canal & enhancing capacity of Mailsi Syphon, costing Rs2,571.088 million; Japanese Assisted Rural Roads Construction Project Phase-II, Sindh, costing Rs8,875.19 million (JBIC and Govt of Sindh funded); Naulong Dam Project, costing Rs.18,027.091 million; construction of Nai Gaj Dam Project, costing Rs.26,236.03 million; construction of Darwat Dam Project, costing Rs9,300 million; Chashma Right Bank Irrigation Project - additional works & outstanding liabilities costing Rs1150 million; Construction of six dispersal structures on Nari River costing Rs4912.39 million; construction of Toiwar/Batozai storage dam, Killa Saifullah costing Rs4344.743 million; rehabilitation of rolling stock and track in connection with bailout package costing Rs4,000 million; realignment of KKH at barrier lake, Attabad, Hunza and Gilgit-Baltistan (17 km new + 7 km rehabilitation) costing Rs26,476.820 million; establishment of AJK Medical College Muzaffrabad (Phase-II) costing Rs2702.41 million; Upgrading of 04x66 KV grid station Deara Murad Jamali, Rojhan Jamali, Usta Mohammad and Jhal Magsi to 132 KV with allied transmission lines from 220/132 KV Dera Murad Jamali grid station costing Rs1998.81 million; detailed design and construction of Matiltan HPP (84 MW) District Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa costing Rs15140.820 million, construction of Lawi hydro power project (69.0 MW) district Chitral (PC-I) costing Rs12,235.45 million, 04 MW hydro power project, Thak Chilas, costing Rs1320.117 million(PSDP + ADB funded); inter-connection of Thar coal-based 1200 MW ENGRO power plant with NTDC system, costing Rs22305.73 million, Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project (PC-I) (Tarbela Dam Project is located on the Indus River 110 km from Islamabad and falls under jurisdiction of Swabi and Haripur districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa) costing Rs83601.040 million; transmission interconnection for dispersal of power from Uch-II power project costing R.2508.160 million; Gwadar-Lasbella Livelihood Support Project costing Rs2,998.088 million and National Gas Efficiency Project costing Rs30,400 million.

The other projects which were also approved include establishment of Programme Management Office (PMO) for Pakistan Energy Efficiency Investment Programme (PC-II) under Programme Support Project (ADB loan no.2553) costing Rs1,697 million(PSDP + ADB funded); revitalising and strengthening the health service delivery and nutrition services in crises-affected districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Public Private Partnership costing Rs2125.50 million; construction of Khyber Institute of Child Health & Children Hospital at Hayatabad, Peshawar (Phase-II) costing Rs2209.296 million; improvement of Children Hospital in Karachi costing Rs1675.952 million; Municipal Services Delivery programme, Sindh costing Rs6898.55 million; Municipal Services Delivery programme costing Rs8,733.27 million; Punjab School Libraries Project (German debt SWAP-I) costing Rs446.926 million; Sindh Basic Education Programme (SBEP) costing Rs14355 million; establishment of Provincial Training Centre for Mine Workers and Emergency Response Training costing Rs1150 million; construction of fish landing jetty and allied harbour facilities at Surbunder, Gwadar costing Rs1,043.400 million; rehabilitation of Radio Pakistan medium wave transmission network for improvement in education, health, information and enlightenment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan and Punjab Province under Japanese Grant/Aid, costing Rs1644.145 million and procurement/manufacture of 50 diesel electric locomotives, costing Rs19406 million.

The committee also discussed projects titled “Establishment of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical College Mirpur (Phase-II)” at a cost of Rs3176 million (both project and operational cost). After evaluating different expects of the project it formed a committee comprising the DCPC and representative from Ministry of Finance to re-consider the operational cost to a minimum level. Ecnec also asked the government of AJK to provide a detailed report of its already completed projects.

While deliberating on a project titled “Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Road Infrastructure Damaged due to Flood/Heavy Rain 2010 in AJK,” costing Rs1790 million, the committee asked the relevant sponsoring agency – the government of AJ&K – to find sources for funding for the said project before seeking approval.

The committee formed a panel comprising chairman NHA, representative from government of KPK and Secretary Planning, to provide inputs for identification of funding sources for the projects titled “Improvement & Widening of N-45 (141 km)”, costing Rs8550 million.

A project titled “Rehabilitation of Track on Lahore-Lalamusa section with new signaling and telecommunication system (2012-2014)” also got the same treatment. Ecnec also approved the design study of the Benazir Bridge across Rive Sutlej linking Chistian with Burewala, costing Rs1250 million. However, the cost of this project will be revised.

The project titled “Channelisation of Deg Nullah from Muridke-Narowal Road to Outfall” was also discussed in the meeting. Chief secretary Punjab requested that the funding requirements of this project should be arranged by the Flood Commission of Pakistan, which the committee accepted

 

[SHAMK9]

Construction of up to 50-storey buildings in Islamabad okayed

Muhammad Anis
Friday, September 28, 2012


Islamabad

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has reached an agreement with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for the construction of high-rise buildings up to 50 storeys in the metropolis.

CDA Chairman Farkhand Iqbal termed the agreement a major breakthrough for future vertical development of Islamabad with minimum use of land.

As per agreement between the CDA and CAA, the permitted height of buildings would range between 150 and 550 feet that varies at different locations. It means that developers would be able to construct up to 50-storey buildings.

Currently, The Centaurus, an under-construction high-rise project, which comprise four skyscrapers, including 41-storey seven-star hotel, is the highest structure in the federal capital. The structure of three towers of offices and residential apartments had already been erected. The entire project is targeted to be completed by the end of 2014.

In the past, the CAA had raised objections over some under-construction high-rise buildings in Islamabad, including a hotel, adjacent to the

Jinnah Convention Centre.

The CDA chairman said that from Kashmir Highway up to Margalla Hills, the CAA has set the height limit of 550 feet. “The CAA officials proposed to us that all high-rise projects should be referred to them when required but we asked them to resolve the issue once and for all,” he said.

The top CDA official said that in view of shortage of land, the residents of the federal capital would witness vertical development, both residential and commercial.

He said that the prime minister has in principle agreed with a

proposal of the CDA on the construction of high-rise buildings on

both sides of Islamabad Highway from Zero Point to Koral Chowk

and Kashmir Highway.

The CDA chairman, however, was not happy over the hurdles, which he has been facing in accomplishing his development plans. “We have not asked for any money from the government but still we face problems in implementation of development projects,” he said adding that all targets could be achieved if hurdles were not created in his way.

He said that files of development plans and other proposals fail to reach the prime minister. “If bureaucratic hurdles are removed, I will be able to start and complete many development plans,” he said. However, he said that the prime minister was very positive in resolving problems of the civic body.

Source: http://www.defence.pk/forums/genera...7-development-pakistan-121.html#ixzz27jHGYtbz

 

[A.Rafay]

Bus project eats up Rs 5bn of other schemes
* Work on ‘politically motivated’ MBS project halts progress on 52 other development schemes in Punjab

By Tariq Farid

LAHORE: “Politically motivated” Metro Bus Service (MBS) project has eaten up funds worth Rs 5 billion of 52 ongoing development schemes in Punjab as a result of which work on projects in other parts of the province has been halted.

Funds for different development schemes of Punjab’s five authorities and as many water and sanitation agencies have been blocked and reallocated to MBS.

According to sources, out of funds worth Rs 5.36 billion allocated for these schemes in the Fiscal Year 2012-13, only Rs 370 million have been released so far.

These development schemes include 14 projects of WASA Lahore, 11 of WASA Faisalabad, three of WASA Rawalpindi, five of WASA Multan, four of WASA Gujranwala, one of Lahore Development Authority (LDA), four of Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), two of Multan Development Authority (MDA), four of Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) and two of Gujranwala Development Authority (GDA).

The funds include Rs 2 billion for FDA schemes, Rs 860 million for MDA schemes, Rs 750 million for GDA schemes and Rs 150 million for WASA Faisalabad schemes.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has submitted an adjournment motion in the Punjab Assembly regarding reallocation of funds for development schemes to MBS.

The motion said that shifting funds of development schemes such as water projects to a “failed project” like MBS would be “grave injustice to the people of other districts”.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s government had been spending public money on “politically motivated projects”, said the motion.

The Punjab government had allocated Rs 29 billion for the project in the 2012-13 fiscal budget, but the project could cross Rs 70 billion mark.

Pakistan People’s Party’s deputy parliamentary leader in Punjab Assembly Shaukat Mehmood Basra has called MBS an “illegal” project, saying that the provincial government had not taken permission from the federal government to start projects worth Rs 5 billion or above.

According to law, he added, it was compulsory for all provincial governments to take permission in advance from the federal government and its Finance Department for all projects worth Rs 5 billion or above.

The digging and closure of roads due to MBS project have also become a permanent source of trouble for people in the city as the government has failed to provide an alternate traffic plan.

According to the first deadline given by the government, the project on Ferozepur Road (from Kalma Chowk to Gajju Matta) should have been completed by April and from Gajju Matta to Bhaati Chowk by October and from Gajju Matta to Shahdara by December. But keeping in view the pace of work, it seems the project will take more time.