ISLAMABAD, Nov 29: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) is expected to give approval to 32 projects worth Rs80 million when its meets here on Thursday.

Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr Akram Sheikh told Dawn that one of the important projects to be approved was the construction of an international airport at Gwadar. A road project aimed to link Quetta with other cities and towns of Balochistan was on the list, he added.

He said that projects like construction of an expo centre in Lahore and competitive support fund were also expected to receive the approval.

Answering a question, Mr Sheikh said that President Musharraf and the federal cabinet had approved a number of mega-projects in the water sector, including the Kalabagh, Diamer-Bhasha and Akhori dams.

"Now there is no question of reconsidering or reviewing those projects, including the three dams," he said, adding that the Central Development Working Party, which had met on Tuesday, did not have any objection on these plans.

He said the technical committee had already cleared and approved the dam projects, adding that no province could now challenge these plans.