Ecnec okays upgrade of Railways main line

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved upgrade of Pakistan Railways existing main Line-1 (ML-1) at re-modified scope, with directions that the Phase-I of the project i.e. 929 km from Karachi to Multan would be taken up as priority.

The Ecnec met under the chair of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar in Islamabad.

The forum also considered and approved project titled “Flood Response Emergency Housing Project (Phase-I)”, to be funded through a loan from the Asian Development Bank. The project aims to support the flood-effected people in Sindh through the community-led reconstruction of more than 250,000 flood resilient houses.

It also considered and approved four water sector projects including Government of Punjab’s project namely “Construction of Dadhocha Dam (revised)”. The project would help bridge water deficiency in Rawalpindi through supply of 35 MGDs of water. Other water sector approved projects included Gomal Zam multipurpose project, Raising of Mangla Dam project and Golen Gol Hydropower project. All three projects are now moving towards closure.

“Development of Integrated Transit Trade Management System” was also approved by the forum. The project envisages construction and developing of state-of-the-art border crossing points at Torkham, Chaman and Wagha, establishment of Land Port Authority, digital end-to-end tracking of containerised cargo, etc.

Ecnec further approved “Karachi Neighborhood Improvement Project (KNIP)” and extended its implementation period by six months to 31st December 2024. The project aims to enhance accessibility, usability and attractiveness of public spaces like roads, streets, parks, open spaces and public buildings in selected neighborhoods of Karachi.

It also approved construction of a border terminal at Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Badini and upgradation of 40-km-long road from Murgha Faqirzai to Khan Dagar Main Badini Road in district Kila Saifullah.