Islamabad: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council’s decision (ECNEC) approved the outsourcing of the Islamabad International Airport (IIA) under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode, along with other significant projects, according to news published on August 5.
Proposed by the Planning Commission, the primary goal of outsourcing the IIA is to revamp the airport’s infrastructure, elevate service quality, and align with global standards by engaging the private sector and incorporating international expertise.
A recently-held meeting presided over by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, reviewed and approved the proposed projects (including IIA) estimated to cost PKR 110.2 billion accumulatively.
The particulars of other projects approved by the ECNEC are as follows:
The council approved the ‘Developing Resilient Environment and Advancing Municipal Services (DREAMS-I)’ project, which is led by Punjab Government. With a whopping budget of PKR 64.480 billion, it aims to improve climate resilience and living conditions for about 2.9 million residents in Rawalpindi and Bahawalpur.
The ECNEC reviewed and approved the Prime Minister’s National Programme for Solarization of Agriculture Tube wells in four provinces and allowed the addition of the rural areas of Islamabad Capital Territory into the project’s scope.
The revised proposal of the ‘Karachi Neighbourhood Improvement Project (KNIP)’ by the Sindh government has also gained ECNEC’s approval. Allocated with PKR 18.8 billion budget, it focuses on upgrading vital infrastructure in key Karachi areas, especially Karachi South, Korangi, and Malir districts.
The ‘Rural Development and Climate Resilience Project’ by the Gilgit-Baltistan government, valued at an updated cost of PKR 16.2 billion with PKR 11.0 billion in foreign financing, was also approved. The project’s goal is to enhance living conditions against climate change and natural disasters.
Lastly, the ‘Feasibility/cost estimate for the Dualization of 65-kilometre-long Sialkot-Eminabad Road up to Kamoki, including a link to the Motorway’, was approved with a significant PKR 10.8 billion budget. The project cost will be shared between the Federal and Punjab governments and the development work will be executed under National Highway Authority (NHA)’s supervision.
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