Upcoming govt to decide on the continuation of Sehat Sahulat Program

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has directed the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives to prepare a framework for the upcoming government to take decisions for the continuation of the “Sehat Sahulat Program (3rd Revised)” beyond June 2024.

The Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, and Economic Affairs, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, presided over a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today.

The ECNEC was briefed about the summary from the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives regarding the “Sehat Sahulat Program (3rd Revised)” with the submission to maintain the continuity of the said programme until June 30th of this year with the provision of assistance only to the population below the poverty line (less than 32.5 PMT).

The forum gave approval with the directions to prepare all modalities regarding technical scope and design, financial plan, regulatory framework, and other institutional arrangements for the upcoming government to take decisions for the continuation of the project beyond June 2024.

The project of the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives regarding “Establishment of Infectious Disease Laboratory (IDL)” with a total cost of Rs8,289.913 million was approved owing to the advanced level 4 lab for handling pathogens and research and development for indigenous viruses and bacteria after COVID-19.

Another project of the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives regarding “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Roads Development Project (KP-RRD)—Asian Development Bank (ADB) Assisted” was placed for consideration by the ECNEC at a total cost of Rs105,450.000 million.

The forum approved the project for improved rural accessibility, connectivity, and unlocking economic and development opportunities for inhabitants of KP province.

The project “Construction of Additional Carriageway of Torkham-Jalalabad Road Project (ACW TJRP) in Afghanistan (2nd Revised)” was presented in detail by the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives. The ECNEC gave approval of the project at a total cost of Rs17,140.622 million without FEC, with the direction to complete the said project within this fiscal year.

The ECNEC was presented with a summary of “Criteria and Procedure for Incorporation of Price Adjustment Provision in the Ongoing Contracts, August 2022 (Amended June 2023-Modified January 2024)”. The forum gave approval to the proposed recommendations in the summary.

The Revised PC-I for the Installation of Telemetry System for Real Time Discharge Monitoring at 27 Key Sites on the Indus Basin Irrigation System “(IBIS) was placed before ECNEC by the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives at a total cost of Rs23,834.707 million and got approved. Another summary of the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives regarding the “Peshawar Northern Bypass Project (PNBP): 32.2 km (3rd revised)” was also approved by ECNEC with the direction to complete before the end of this fiscal year.

The summary from the Economic Affairs Division regarding “Relending of Loans to Provincial Governments Obtained by the Federal Government for Polio Eradication Programme” was approved owing to the fact that three provinces have already agreed to relent the loan obtained by the Federal Government.

The provincial share of the loan for repayment will be calculated by the Ministry of Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination in consultation with the respective finance and health departments.

The summary of the Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives regarding “Development of National Irrigation Network for Green Pakistan Initiative” was discussed in detail with the submission to the Ministry of Water Resources and Provinces to allocate priority to strategic canals in accordance with National Water Policy.

The Greater Thal Canal Project (Phase II) was also discussed, on which the Government of Sindh showed its concerns. The ECNEC directed the Government of Sindh to present its views regarding the techno-economic viability of the Greater Thal Canal (Phase II) project to the Council of Common Interest. The forum gave approval to the Greater Thal Canal (Phase II) project, subject to the approval of CCI.