Sindh govt refuses to contribute as ECNEC approves PM's health program

ISLAMABAD: The Sindh government has expressed inability to make any financial contribution towards the Prime Minister’s National Health Program which was approved on Wednesday in a meeting of Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

The meeting of ECNEC approved nine projects of worth over 167 billion rupees. This includes the second phase of the Prime Minister’s National Health Program at a total cost of Rs. 33.629 billion. The project aims to expand and extend provision of health services across the country especially to women and children, and reduce pocket expenditures by vulnerable segments of society.

However, the representative of the Sindh government expressed inability to make any financial contribution towards the Prime Minister’s National Health Program.

Enhancing public-private partnership in Punjab poeject

The meeting approved the enhancing public private partnership in Punjab project at a cost of Rs. 23.478 billion. The program will provide direct financial support towards Viability Gap Fund, Project Development Fund and capacity building besides providing adequate financial resources to government departments for project identification, transaction execution and development of sustainable projects.

The meeting approved establishment of Combined Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) for industrial areas of Karachi including laying of interceptors sewers at an estimated cost of Rs. 11.799 billion.  The federal government’s share would be funded through PSDP.

The Greater Karachi Sewerage Plan (S-III) at a cost of Rs. 36,117.459 million was also approved by the ECNEC. The meeting emphasised on effective monitoring for smooth project implementation.

Other projects

The meeting approved to widen and improvement of Ghalani-Mamad Ghat road project in Mohmand Agency FATA.  The project of scaling of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF-II ) in Northern Areas was approved  at a cost of Rs. 3,946 billion.

Projects for rehabilitation of assets damaged as a result of riots on 27-28 December 2007, and during the 2010 floods were also approved at a cost of Rs. 10.461 billion and Rs. 9.597 billion respectively.

The meeting approved extension in completion date for National Electronics Complex of Pakistan (Phase-I) NESCOM Islamabad.

About projects related to water resources, the meeting approved construction of Jalalpur irrigation canal at a cost of Rs. 32.721 billion and construction of Papin Dam project at a rationalised cost of Rs. 5.307 billion.