ISLAMABAD, Dec 6: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) is meeting here on Tuesday (today) to approve about 38 new projects at a cost of over Rs200 billion.

Informed sources told Dawn that it would be the first meeting of Ecnec during the current fiscal year, although the government was required under a policy decision of the National Economic Council (NEC) to hold quarterly meetings of Ecnec. As such Ecnec was required to hold two meetings by the middle of the fiscal year but it has been able to meet only once instead of twice.

The sources said the government was also required to hold a biannual meeting of the National Economic Council in December to review the implementation of the Public Sector Development Programme and divert funding of slow-moving projects to fast-moving projects and sectors.

Ecnec is expected to approve a package to open oil and gas exploration activities in the tribal areas of Balochistan over a period of three years, which has been blocked for over a decade due to security reasons.

The council is also expected to approve remodelling of Thal canal by increasing its capacity from 7,500 cusec to 9,000 cusec at a cost of Rs1.5 billion. The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has already issued a certificate to the remodelling of canal, despite objections by the Sindh government.

The meeting will also consider the implementation of Khirther Canal Project in Balochistan and approve rehabilitation and modernisation of Taunsa Barrage. Ecnec is also expected to consider three major nuclear-related projects, including detailed exploration of uranium resources in Dera Ghazi Khan, Nuclear Mineral Survey Scheme, institutional strengthening and capacity building of the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA).

The meeting will also consider a number of projects for strengthening and improvement of eight distribution companies (Discos) of Wapda. These include sixth secondary transmission lines and grid stations, distribution, expansion and rehabilitation system of these Discos.

A major project, national programme for improvement of water courses, and another project, lining of water courses in NWFP, will also come under discussion. The meeting will also consider the land and water resources development project for poverty reduction in the country, agriculture sector development loan, selection and approval of a programme to achieve 100 per cent literacy in model districts through literacy campaigns.

The meeting is also expected to approve a request of the petroleum ministry seeking exemption of OGDCL projects from approval of Ecnec and the CDWP.