ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Friday approved nine development projects at a cost of Rs311 billion, including the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), which will be constructed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework.

The meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, approved the revival of the KCR at a rationalised cost of Rs207.5bn. The project was made a part of the CPEC by the governments of China and Pakistan at the 6th joint coordination committee held in December last year.

The project to revive the KCR includes the construction of 24 stations, procurement of 162 locomotives each with a capacity of 250 passengers. The project is expected to serve the commuting needs of 515,000 passengers each day, and is projected to be completed in three years — towards the end of 2020. China will provide a major portion of the financing required for the project. The locomotives will run at an average speed of 45-50 km per hour, and the projected ridership is expected to increase to 750,000 by the year 2030, per day and 915,000 by 2040.

Eight other development projects also okayed

The route of the proposed KCR will be constructed along the existing (abandoned) track which runs through the heart of Karachi’s various densely populated areas such as Shah Faisal Colony, COD, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, NIPA, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Federal B Area, Manghopir, SITE, Baldia, Orangi, Wazir Mansion, and Chanesar.

The participants in the meeting also approved financial inclusion and infrastructure project at a rationalised cost of Rs14.3bn, and doubling of the railway track from Khanewal to Raiwind (246km) 3rd Revision at a rationalised cost of Rs14.2bn.

For Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a Provincial Roads Rehabilitation Project was approved at a projected cost of Rs17.1bn. The participants of the meeting also approved remodelling of the Warsak Canal System in Peshawar and Nowshera District (Revised) at a rationalised cost of Rs 11.1bn. The cost of remodelling the canal system will be shared equally between the federal government and the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

An education project, expected to cost Rs3.57bn, was approved for Balochistan. The project aims to increase student enrolment, with a special emphasis on education for girls in 31 districts of Balochistan.

Ecnec also approved the construction of a four-lane bridge across the River Indus that would link Layyah with Taunsa, including two-lane approach roads and river training works (24.272 km) at a rationalised cost of Rs9.8bn. Ecnec directed the National Highways Authority to work out a master plan for future bridges to be constructed across the country.

The participants in the meeting also approved the construction of Rathoa Haryam Bridge and approaches across the reservoir channel on Mirpur-Islamgarh Road (2nd Revision) at a rationalised cost of Rs6.5bn.

In addition, Ecnec approved the Prime Minister’s Youth Training Scheme 2015-17 at a total cost of Rs26.6bn.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2017

Follow Dawn Business on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Spread of hate
Updated 18 Jun, 2025

Spread of hate

HATE speech is not confined to words; in fact, there is a causal link between hateful rhetoric and real-world...
Big challenges
18 Jun, 2025

Big challenges

BALOCHISTAN’S Rs1.028tr budget, featuring a public development investment of Rs245bn and provincial surplus of...
Rampant disinformation
Updated 18 Jun, 2025

Rampant disinformation

WITH the arrival and proliferation of digital media, the creation of information is now a decentralised function,...
Window dressing
Updated 17 Jun, 2025

Window dressing

Meanwhile, the provinces lack the resources and expertise to implement adaptation measures effectively.
No revenue effort
17 Jun, 2025

No revenue effort

WITH the ruling PML-N’s next budget unfolding large infrastructure schemes, and expenditure focusing on service...
Pomp and circumstance
17 Jun, 2025

Pomp and circumstance

THE sight of columns of tanks rolling down a boulevard, accompanied by troops goose-stepping in lockstep, was a...