ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Friday approved Rs62 billion worth development projects.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar chaired the meeting which approved a project worth Rs4.282bn for establishment and operation of basic education community schools across the country.

Reconstruction and rehabilitation of 277 flood-damaged school buildings in 10 districts of AJ&K with a rationalised cost of Rs3.865bn to be completed by March 2019, was also approved.

Dar believed the timely completion of the project will help increase literacy rate of AJK from 67pc to 95pc by 2019.

The Ecnec considered and approved eight projects of the Ministry of Water and Power for augmentation and extension of 132/11KV Transformers/Power Distribution Enhancement Investment Programme Tranche-4 for distribution companies.

An amount of Rs2.061bn was approved for Iesco, Rs1.83bn, Fesco, Rs1.29bn, Hesco, Rs1bn, Gepco, Rs3.67bn, Mepco, Rs4.8bn, Lesco, Rs1.18bn, Qesco and Rs2.75bn, Pesco.

These projects envisage upgradation/extension of existing grid stations for uninterrupted and sustainable power supply to the consumers.

The implementation period for the projects is 2014-16. It also approved construction of low cost housing units for earthquake victims of districts Awaran and Kech in Balochistan at a cost of Rs4bn. The federal government will share 50pc cost (grant) and the remaining 50pc will be provided by the government of Balochistan.

The project aims at award of cash grants of Rs220,000 to each house-owner for reconstruction of low cost two-room house; besides provision of solar electrification units. The project also aims at provision and installation of 18 community solar pumps for provision of water.

The prime minister has directed for reconstruction of 16,000 houses within a period of three years in Awaran and Kech districts, which were hit earthquake in September 2013.

The Ecnec also approved Sindh Water Sector Improvement Project (Phase-I) with a cost of Rs30.353bn which includes World Bank (IDA credit) of Rs28.84bn. The project will be implemented in the command area of Ghotki feeder, Nara, Fuleli and Akram Wah canals.

The main objective of the project is to improve the effectiveness and operational efficiency of water distribution by ensuring the safety of the canal system and delivering due share of water to the farmers at the tail end.

The Ecnec considered a report of the Planning Division for already approved Jamshoro 2x600MW coal fired power project.