ECNEC approves Mainline-1 (ML-1), dry port near Havelian

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh chaired a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) at the Cabinet Division on Wednesday. The project of Pakistan Railways for upgradation of Pakistan Railways existing Mainline-1 (ML-1) and establishment of dry port near Havelian was also approved by ECNEC at the rationalized cost of US$ 6,806.783 million on cost sharing basis between the governments of China and Pakistan. The execution of the project shall be in three packages and in order to avoid commitment charges, the loan amount for each package will be separately contracted. Under this project, existing 2,655 KM track will be upgraded. The speed of passenger trains shall increase from 65/110 KM/h to 165 KM/h and line capacity will increase from 34 to 137/171 trains each way per day. The Ministry of Railways would constitute a project steering committee for effective supervision and implementation of the project. ECNEC approved the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) project, FBR shall be the sponsoring agency for this project. The total cost of the project shall be Rs 11,074.16 million including Rs 9,020 million as FEC. The project shall be completed by June 2023 and it is expected to enhance Pakistan’s global ranking in cross border trade related indicators. It will also serve as the integration point bridging cargo/logistics systems and other trade related processes. The project will provide an automated single-entry centralized hub for submission and processing of 90% of the licenses, permits, certificates and other documents (LPCOs) for external trade. The ECNEC also approved the change in cost sharing ratios of ADB and its co-financing Partners for 'Construction of BRT Red Line Project, Karachi' at the total cost of Rs 78,384.33 million including FEC of Rs 66,378.33 million (with cattle based biomethane as fuel technology). The project was already approved by ECNEC on 29th August 2019. PhD Scholarship Program under US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor (phase-1) was also approved by ECNEC at the revised cost of Rs. 25,226.274 million including FEC of Rs 24,303.543 million. In the revised PC-1 the scope of the project has been curtailed to 1000 scholarships (from 1500 scholarships) mainly due to appreciation of dollar rate against Pak-rupee and inclusion of tuition fee/ research grant.