ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Wednesday approved the revised cost for the ‘Islamabad safe city’ project, bedsides giving a go ahead to the procurement and manufacture of railway wagons for coal transportation to coal-fired power plants.

Chaired by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Ecnec was informed that the ‘safe city’ project of the ministry of interior was previously approved without any provision for the duties and taxes, on the assumption that they (taxes) would be waived by the FBR.

The tax exemption was, however, not granted by the FBR as the government is pursuing the policy of discouraging tax exemptions. The interior ministry therefore revised the project cost to include taxes and duties.

It was emphasized that there was no cost increase in any of the physical project component. The meeting accorded approval to the revised cost of Rs15.865 billion including Rs4 billion for payment of taxes and duties to the FBR.

The project which is nearing completion, envisages physical infrastructure and allied facilities to protect citizens and their properties against security threats and acts of terror.

The project will also strengthen the law enforcement agencies by utilizing state of the art technologies including cameras, integration of multiple national databases of vehicles and individuals with centralized control rooms aimed at preventing untoward incidents.

Ecnec also approved the proposal of ministry of railways for the procurement and manufacture of 585 wagons and 20 bogie-brake vans for coal transportation at a total cost of Rs5,861 million. The project would enable Pakistan Railways to meet the demand for transportation of 6 million tons of coal from Karachi port to up country for coal fired power plants.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2015