The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) formally approved on Friday two major projects — the Gadani Power Park infrastructure development project and Rs25.5 billion for the first phase of the Greater Karachi Water Supply Scheme.
The two projects were cleared by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Thursday and recommended for approval.
Chaired by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, the Ecnec meeting approved Rs146.6 billion for the construction of marine infrastructure for a 6600MW Power Park project at Gadani in Balochistan.
Ecnec also approved the Greater Karachi Water Supply scheme K-IV (Phase I)-260 MGD (million gallons per day), which will take water from the east bank of Keenjhar Lake in District Thatta to Karachi City, at a total cost of Rs25.5 billion, which will be shared 50/50 by the federal government and the government of Sindh.
The project has been designed with a total capacity of 650 MGD (million gallons per day) to meet the rising water demands of the 18.5 million inhabitants of Karachi.
The present water demand in Karachi is approximately 1,000 MGD, whereas the existing supply is 650 MGD, resulting in a shortfall of 350 MGD. The project will be completed in four years.