ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved on Saturday six development projects worth Rs239 billion in energy, infrastructure and communications sectors.

A meeting of the committee presided over by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar also gave approval to construction of Abdul Hakeem- Lahore section of the Karachi-Lahore Motorway.

The 230km six-lane section included roadside facilities. The Rs150.6bn project will cover cities and towns of Abdul Hakeem, Pir Mahal, Samundri, Gojra, Tandilianwala, Jaranwala, Bucheki, Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura and Lahore.

The meeting approved the Sindh Roads Improvement project at a cost of Rs22.750bn. The project envisages reconditioning / reconstruction, improvement, widening and strengthening of varying lengths of 329km roads in Kashmore, Kandhkot, Larkana, Sanghar, Tando Adam, Mirpurkhas, Tando Mohammad Khan and Badin areas.

The roads damaged by floods and heavy rain need urgent revamping.

The committee approved in principle advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) projects for Islamabad and Lahore Electric Supply Companies at a cost of Rs18.607bn and Rs30.597bn, respectively.

The projects include establishment of new customer information and billing systems.

The water and power secretary informed the meeting that the projects would enhance load control and load management in the two companies.

The AMI system would have smart metres, in-house display units and shall provide head-end system software for effective liaison between metre and the management information system.

A constant watch on the demand and supply position would be maintained through the AMI to guard against any breakdown.

The meeting accorded approval for land acquisition and construction of road network projects for the New Islamabad International Airport.

The land acquisition and other related tasks would cost Rs5.455bn and the construction of road networks to be undertaken in four phases would cost Rs11.295bn.

The finance minister ordered formation of a committee comprising senior officials from the ministries of finance, communications and planning & development to decide about the mode of financing for Phase-III, which involves construction of a part of main link road to the airport.

The committee approved a proposal of the ministry of water and power related to land acquisition for the Dasu Hydropower Project, which is being implemented with the financial support of the World Bank.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2015