ECNEC approves project for CPEC’s western route

ISLAMABAD: The meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), chaired by Finance Minister Asad Umar, on Thursday approved different projects for power and communication sectors, ARY News reported.

The meeting also approved construction of 305-kilometer Kuchlak-Zhob section of the Western route.

The ECNEC said the route completion would help Zhob, Kuchlak, Muslim Bagh, Pashin and the entire Khyber Pakhtonkhwa.

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The funds for western route will be acquired through allocations for the development programme.

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) had last week approved the Kuchlak-Zhob Section of the route, worth Rs 11.3 billion. The route plan was then forwarded for approval to the Executive Committee of National Economic Council

The Committee meeting was chaired by the Minister of Planning, Development and Reform, Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar. The minister said that the 305 km long project upon completion will facilitate streamlined flow of traffic and logistics.

Bakhtiar said that completion of project would contribute to smooth and efficient movement of goods and traffic in relatively shorter time. Overall CDWP accorded approval of two projects worth Rs 913 million and recommended three projects costing Rs 96 billion to ECNEC. However, concept clearance was also granted for two environment related projects for negotiations with the donors.