ISLAMABAD, Nov 12: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Monday approved 16 development projects of Rs97.9 billion, including the upgradation of Karakoram Highway as part of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam at a cost of Rs30 billion.

The meeting presided over by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also reviewed the projects approved over the eight years of General Pervez Musharraf’s rule.

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr Akram Sheikh told newsmen after the meeting that Ecnec in its 27 meetings since 1999 had approved 649 projects at an estimated cost of Rs2.441 trillion.

He declined to quantify economic losses caused by project delays and cost over-runs during this period, but said that about 20 per cent of the projects faced cost increases.

Responding to a question, Dr Sheikh said Chinese engineers and workers were still working at Gomal Zam dam and Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower project. He said the planning commission was playing a proactive role with relevant agencies and provincial governments to make strict security arrangements and ensure that the Chinese did not abandon development projects and that those who had left should immediately return.

He said that elements called the local Taliban were not against the Chinese who were regarded as guests and friends. However, all the people and the government should be careful not to allow anyone to attack them in the name of the Taliban. He said the government would ensure best security arrangements for the Chinese workers in the country.

Responding to a question, the deputy chairman said the president had set a target of building five big dams by 2016, but the target was to be met by the executing agencies and the ministries while the planning commission had a supporting role.

Dr Sheikh said the commission had made necessary allocations for all the projects. He said that China would provide Rs25 billion for the upgradation of KKH as part of Bhasha dam project.

The president, he said, was being updated on Akhori dam on a monthly basis and Kalabagh dam had been ready for implementation for a long time.

He said the meeting also approved a model document for bidding and contract agreements, prepared by the planning commission and Pakistan Engineering Council, to be used in future across the country for all projects and contracts. He did not provide details of the code.