ECNEC clears motorways, road works, green initiatives

Islamabad: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, on Thursday approved 27 development projects worth over PKR 1.5 trillion in under two hours, with a significant share allocated to schemes in Sindh and Balochistan.

According to officials, the projects span energy, infrastructure, environment, health, education, and public services. The meeting also referred the Sehat Sahulat Card scheme to a committee for further review.

Read: SIFC clears new motorways

Key approved projects include:

• Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M-6) – PKR 363 billion; construction of the only missing north-south motorway link, with sections funded by the Islamic Development Bank and potential participation from Chinese firms.
• N-25 Karachi-Quetta-Chaman Road (“Balochistan Expressway”) – PKR 415 billion for three dualisation sections:
  • Karachi to Quetta (278 km) – PKR 183.4 billion
  • Khuzdar to Kuchlak (332 km) – PKR 99 billion
  • Karoro Wadh to Khuzdar-Chaman (104 km) – PKR 133 billion
• Green Pakistan Programme (Upscaled) – PKR 122.2 billion for forest restoration, biodiversity, and non-timber forest product markets, with Punjab receiving PKR 32 billion and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa PKR 28 billion.
• Naltar Hydropower Project (16MW) – PKR 10.6 billion.
• Flood Management in Kachhi Plains, Balochistan – PKR 17 billion.
• Punjab Tourism for Economic Growth Project – PKR 12.2 billion.
• Higher Education Development Programme – PKR 21.2 billion.
• Prime Minister’s Pakistan Fund for Education – PKR 14 billion.
• Punjab Laptop Programme – PKR 27 billion.
• Sargodha–Mianwali Road (via Khushab) Dualisation – PKR 12 billion, with 25% federal funding.
• Lahore Sewerage System Upgrade (Larechs Colony to Gulshan-e-Ravi) – PKR 49.3 billion.
• Controlled Access Corridor (Niazi to Babu Sabu Interchanges, Lahore) – PKR 12 billion.
• Balochistan Water Security and Productivity Improvement Project – PKR 10 billion.
• Gujranwala–M-2 Interchange Road (via Hafizabad) – PKR 13.2 billion, with 28.2% federal funding.
• Jhaljao–Bela Road Rehabilitation – PKR 16.2 billion.
• Pakistan Raises Revenue Programme (Revised) – PKR 41 billion, funded partly by a World Bank loan.
• Sanghar–National Highway Road Reconstruction – PKR 37 billion, jointly funded by the federal and Sindh governments.
• Rohri–Guddu Barrage Road Upgrade – PKR 18 billion.
• Sindh Coastal Highway Project (Revised) – PKR 37.7 billion, with federal and Sindh contributions.
• Mehran Highway Dualisation (Nawabshah to Ranipur) – PKR 41 billion.
• National Highway N-5 Reconstruction (Resilient Recovery & Reconstruction Framework) – PKR 165 billion, with major financing from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Dar reiterated the government’s commitment to inclusive, sustainable growth, institutional reforms, and long-term economic stability.