Dasu Hydropower Project’s Cost Increased by 4.71%

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP), on Monday, recommended a revised cost of Dasu Hydropower Project, increasing it 4.71% from Rs. 486.093 billion to Rs 510.980 billion, mainly because of the escalation of land cost.

The CDWP increased the land component cost of the Dasu Project from the original Rs. 12 billion to Rs. 39.6 billion in the second revision. It was initially estimated to cost Rs. 12 billion which was revised up to Rs. 19 billion in the first revision.

The Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reform Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar accorded approval to 17 projects worth Rs. 18.8 billion and recommended 9 projects worth Rs. 594.5 billion to Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) for final consideration.

Projects related to energy, transport & communication, science & technology, health, population planning, industries & commerce, food & agriculture, and education were presented in the meeting.

The Ministry of Water Resources presented the position paper of Dasu Hydel Power Project due to increased land and compensation cost from Rs 19 billion to Rs 36 billion with a total worth Rs 510 billion which was approved and referred to ECNEC for consideration.

The Ministry of National Food, Security & Research presented five projects ‘Productivity Enhancement of Wheat’ worth Rs. 3,1987.4 million, ‘Productivity Enhancement of Rice’ worth Rs. 15,809.620 million, ‘Productivity Enhancement of Sugarcane’ worth Rs. 5,019.589 million and ‘National Oilseeds Enhancement Programme (NOEP)’ worth Rs. 10,167.25 million and ‘Cage, Culture, Cluster Development Project’ worth Rs. 6,582 million which were all recommended to ECNEC for consideration.

Three projects and a position paper related to energy sector were presented in the meeting. The first project ‘Up-gradation of POL Testing Facilities of HDIP at Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta and ISO Certification of Petroleum Testing Laboratory at Islamabad’ worth Rs293.614 million was presented and approved.

The CDWP approved construction of 132 KV Grid Station at Mashkay and 132 KV STD Nal-Mashkay Transmission Line project at a cost of Rs. 1.2 billion. A ‘500 KV Moro Grid Station’ worth Rs. 5.4 billion was also approved.

The project related to transport and communication ‘Construction of Groyne Wall/Break Water and allied works at East Bay (Demi Zer) Gwadar’ worth Rs. 1.01 billion was approved in the meeting.

HEC presented two projects ‘Strengthening and Development of Physical and Technological Infrastructure at the University of Haripur’ worth Rs 1.54 billion, and ‘Livestock Sector Development through Capacity Building, Applied Research and Technology Transfer, University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences’ worth Rs1.9 billion, which were approved in the meeting.

Ministry of Science & Technology presented two projects titled ‘Establishment of Pak-Korea Testing Laboratory for PV Modules & Allied Equipment’ worth Rs. 1.38 billion and ‘Up-gradation of Polymers and Plastics Laboratory at PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Lahore’ worth Rs. 140.249 million which were accorded approval.

Three health-related projects were presented in the meeting. Ministry of National Health, Services, Regulation & Coordination presented ‘Treatment of Cancer Patients of ICT, AJK & Gilgit-Baltistan’ worth Rs. 4.72 billion which was recommended to ECNEC for consideration.

Three projects related to population planning were presented by the Ministry of National Health, Services, Regulation & Coordination.

It was requested by the Minister of Education for extension of ‘Establishment and Operation of Basic Education Community Schools in the country’ till June 2019 worth Rs. 4.62 billion which was referred to Ecnec for consideration.

The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) presented two projects ‘Up-gradation of Atomic Energy Cancer Hospital-KIRAN (AECH-KIRAN)’ worth Rs. 2.3 billion and ‘Up-gradation of Diagnostic & Therapeutic Facilities at BINO, Bahawalpur,’ worth Rs. 1.37 billion were also given approval.