ZAHEER ABBASI

ISLAMABAD: A meeting of Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Wednesday directed ministers and officials to resolve the issue of interpretation of Article 154 of Constitution following Sindh government’s reservations on a decision to set up two 2500MW LNG gas-based power plants in Punjab. Sources said that Finance Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah reportedly raised serious concerns citing Article 154 of the Constitution, which refers to the federal legislative list and constitution of CCI as well as its meeting once in every 90 days to resolve differences on any issue between federation and provinces. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar who chaired the Ecnec meeting submitted these two projects by Ministry of Water and Power of the planned 3600 power generation through LNG. The Minister after a long discussion has asked Ministers for Water & Power, Petroleum, Attorney General as well as Provincial Finance Ministers and Federal Secretary Law to hold a meeting within a week to resolve the issue of interpretation of Article 154 of Constitution.

Source further stated that the Sindh Finance Minister argued that gas was a provincial matter and any decision to this effect must be taken in the meeting of the Council of Common Interest (CCI). However, federal finance minister stated that LNG was an imported commodity and was not locally produced.

Ministry of Water and Power submitted 1230 MW (Gross) combined cycle power plant project at Haveli Bahadur Shah, Jhang with Rs. 98.104 billion cost as well as 1223 MW (Gross) Combined Cycle Power Plant at Balloki, Kasur, of Rs.92.336 billion for approval, however, the meeting accorded, in principle approval, after a long discussion and directed Federal Ministers for Water & Power, Petroleum & Natural Resources, the Attorney General, Provincial Finance Ministers, and Federal Secretary Law to meet within a week to resolve the issue of interpretation of Article 154 of Constitution.

On a proposal of the Ministry of Communications, the ECNEC approved the revised Lyari Expressway Project at a rationalized cost of Rs.11.521 billion. The project involves construction of 16.162 km long and 13meter-wide controlled access 4-lane (2+2) expressway along Lyari River, passing through the metropolitan city of Karachi. National Highways Authority (NHA) representative informed the Committee that the problems relating to land acquisition and resettlement had been resolved.

The representative of government of Sindh said the provincial government was providing maximum facilitation for completion of the project. The Ecnec also considered and approved Project for Transportation of Coal by Rail to Jamshoro power plant at the revised scope and cost of Rs.7.522 billion.

The project envisages rehabilitation of existing track of 17.99 Km by replacing old rails with new rails of 54 Kg/m density and laying of a 2km new track for new loops at station and plant site with allied facilities for efficient transportation of coal to the power plants at Jamshoro.

The Ecnec also considered and approved, in principle, a proposal of Ministry of Water & Power regarding 1410 MW Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower project (PC-I) at an updated cost of Rs. 81.091 billion. The meeting directed Ministry to firm up the cost estimates and also obtain a No-Objection Certificate (NoC) from IRSA.

The project aims at installing three additional power generating units having a capacity of 470 MW each in existing tunnel 5 without affecting the capacity for irrigation release. The total installed capacity of Tarbela Dam after completion of Tarbela 4th Extension would reach 4888MW and after Tarbela 5th Extension it would further rise to 6298MW.