The Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme has been approved by the National Economic Council’s Executive Committee (ECNEC) at a cost of Rs 16.8 billion.

Senator Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister of Finance and Revenue, presided over the ECNEC meeting. The summary for the approval of the Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme was provided by the Ministry of Planning, Development, Reform, and Initiative. It told ECNEC that CDWP had authorized the project with the condition that the member (S&T) assess the scope and cost before submitting it to ECNEC.

According to CDWP’s decision, the cost has been reduced from Rs. 17.5 billion to Rs. 16.8 billion. The sponsors have presented an unaltered PC-I at a cost of Rs. 16.8 billion.

The Planning Commission notified ECNEC that the project will be funded by the federal government and completed in two years, i.e. 2023-2025. As a result, the project was approved by the forum.

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The ECNEC also approved an Aviation Division project named Modernization of Hydromet Services of PMD in Pakistan (MHSP) at a cost of Rs. 14,498.875 million, which will be carried out across the country by the Pakistan Meteorological Department. The World Bank is funding the project as part of the Post-Flood 2022 Reconstruction Program.

Water Requirement for K-IV Project Improvement of Kalri Baghar Feeder & Keenjhar Lake – Plain Cement Concrete (PCC) Lining of Karlri Baghar Feeder Upper Phase-I Project, to be carried out in District Jamshoro & Thatta of Sindh Province, was also considered and approved. The project’s cost is anticipated to be Rs. 39,942.559 million, with the federal and provincial governments (Govt of Sindh) splitting the cost 50:50. The project will be carried out by the Government of Sindh’s Irrigation Department.

The ECNEC also evaluated and approved a Ministry of Communications project named Construction of Khawazakhela – Besham Expressway (48 km) at a cost of Rs. 79,130.878 million without FEC. The National Highway Authority will carry out the project in the districts of Shangla and Swat in KP Province. The project will be totally funded by the Federal PSDP.

Another Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training project, the Pakistan Education Fund, was considered and approved in principle at a cost of Rs. 14,000 million to be implemented throughout Pakistan by the Higher Education Commission, NEST, and Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training. The federal PSDP 2023-24 will fund the project, which will give scholarships.

Finally, a Ministry of Communications project titled “Lahore-Sahiwal-Bahwalnagar Motorway (295 km) Phase-I” was examined and approved at a cost of Rs. 263,795.863 million to be performed in the Punjab Province districts of Bahawalpur, Kasur, Lahore, Okara, Pakpattan, and Sahiwal. The Federal PSDP will finance the project.