Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar presided over the recent Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting in the absence of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who was occupied with other commitments.

The meeting saw the participation of key figures, including the Finance Minister, Planning Minister, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, and provincial authorities.

The committee reviewed a 21-point agenda put forth by various meetings of the Central Development Working Party (CDWP), resulting in the approval of 19 significant projects. A major focus of the meeting was accelerating the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in flood-affected areas of Balochistan.

The ECNEC approved four sub-components of the Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation Program, backed by a $400 million World Bank fund. The sub-program includes $155 million for housing reconstruction, $50 million for road infrastructure, $40 million for livelihood support, and $30 million for irrigation infrastructure.

Additionally, the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for 2024-25 allocates Rs 11.2 billion for these reconstruction projects in Balochistan. The committee emphasized the need for a swift and high-quality reconstruction process.

The committee also approved several key projects for Sindh, including the Revised Flood Response Emergency Housing Project, estimated at Rs 296 billion, with the federal government contributing Rs 50 billion.

The PSDP 2024-25 has earmarked Rs 30 billion from the federal portion for housing reconstruction in Sindh. Ishaq Dar reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to funding these efforts.

Other significant approvals included the Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project Phase II and the operationalization of the Green Line BRTS in Karachi, with a revised cost of Rs 13.502 billion.

The ECNEC also sanctioned projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), such as the realignment of the Karakoram Highway between Thakot and Raikot, and the revised PC One for the New Gwadar International Airport, which is set to become operational this year.