Infrastructure Development in Pakistan
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Muhammad Omar
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Economic Corridor (CPEC) under construction from Gawadar to Sorab (650 Kms) to provide connectivity upto Quetta, Qila Saifullah, Zhob & D I Khan by FWO
Indus Pakistan
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Thanks. But those pics you have were taken exactly where, like location?
Muhammad Omar
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SADDAR Parsa Citi 8*20 Fl
Muhammad Omar
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Muhammad Omar
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Kohisan Tower on Mall Road Saddar Rawalpindi
Muhammad Omar
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Hospital In Murree
Edevelop
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E-Khidmat Centres (Citizen Facilitation Centers) to be established in all the Divisions of Punjab
e-Khidmat Center | Punjab
Knowledge Park to be first educational centre of international standard in the region:
The project of setting up Knowledge Park on a vast area in the city is unique and the first project of its kind in the history of the country, said Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif while presiding over a high level meeting to review the project of Knowledge Park of international standard on Sunday.
Provincial ministers Rana Mashhood Ahmed, Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Planning and Development chairman, secretaries of Finance, Higher Education departments, Punjab Information Technology Board chairman, educationists and officials concerned attended the meeting.
While addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that education is the only way towards rapid development and the goal of progress cannot be achieved without education.
Therefore, he said, the Punjab government is spending billions of rupees on the programmes for the promotion of quality education. He said that problems like terrorism, extremism, poverty and unemployment will be eradicated through promotion of education and the government is taking special measures for promotion of education.
“Through Daanish schools, quality education has been made available to the children of low income segments in backward areas of the province and better education than prestigious institutions is being provided in the schools,” he elaborated.
The chief minister said that the project of Knowledge Park has been evolved under the strategy of promotion of education and it is a revolutionary project in the noble mission of promotion of education as local students as well as of other countries will be able to get education in the educational institutions which will be established in the Knowledge Park. He said that residential, recreational and other facilities for teachers and local and foreign students will be available in the park.
“Promotion of education, research and science and technology is the need of the hour and the park is of vital importance for the promotion of education and research,” he added.
Shehbaz said that the park has to be furthered without wasting any time as it will leave a positive impact on the development of education sector. He also issued instructions for setting up a sub-committee which will present final report after reviewing all matters regarding the project.
e-Khidmat Center | Punjab
Knowledge Park to be first educational centre of international standard in the region:
The project of setting up Knowledge Park on a vast area in the city is unique and the first project of its kind in the history of the country, said Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif while presiding over a high level meeting to review the project of Knowledge Park of international standard on Sunday.
Provincial ministers Rana Mashhood Ahmed, Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Planning and Development chairman, secretaries of Finance, Higher Education departments, Punjab Information Technology Board chairman, educationists and officials concerned attended the meeting.
While addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that education is the only way towards rapid development and the goal of progress cannot be achieved without education.
Therefore, he said, the Punjab government is spending billions of rupees on the programmes for the promotion of quality education. He said that problems like terrorism, extremism, poverty and unemployment will be eradicated through promotion of education and the government is taking special measures for promotion of education.
“Through Daanish schools, quality education has been made available to the children of low income segments in backward areas of the province and better education than prestigious institutions is being provided in the schools,” he elaborated.
The chief minister said that the project of Knowledge Park has been evolved under the strategy of promotion of education and it is a revolutionary project in the noble mission of promotion of education as local students as well as of other countries will be able to get education in the educational institutions which will be established in the Knowledge Park. He said that residential, recreational and other facilities for teachers and local and foreign students will be available in the park.
“Promotion of education, research and science and technology is the need of the hour and the park is of vital importance for the promotion of education and research,” he added.
Shehbaz said that the park has to be furthered without wasting any time as it will leave a positive impact on the development of education sector. He also issued instructions for setting up a sub-committee which will present final report after reviewing all matters regarding the project.
Muhammad Omar
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Don't know the Exact location of it... These Pictures were Taken By Ahsan Iqbal on his Visit there by Helicopter and meeting with FWO personal
Indus Pakistan
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Are they in Balochistan though?
Muhammad Omar
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ali_raza
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the general next to ahsan iqbal look a little drunh ehh
Edevelop
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Yamaha makes a comeback
The fact that the parts from a motorbike made in the 1980s can still fit perfectly on a 2015 model bike goes to show how stagnant Pakistan’s motorbike industry has been in terms of innovation. However, the recent wave of advancements to sweep across the automobile industry have finally started to seep into the motorcycle industry, and almost six years after exiting the market, Yamaha was back in April this year with the launch of the YBR-125, an advanced bike with a sporty look.
Yamaha first came to Pakistan in the 1970s via a joint venture with the Dawood Group (known as DYL) and for decades remained the second largest player in the motorbike segment, trailing just behind Honda. However, by the year 2000, DYL’s market share started declining sharply, partially due to the introduction of low cost and comparatively advanced Chinese bikes and partially because of lack of innovation in DYL’s own products.
Explaining the reasons behind DYL’s decline and Yamaha’s recent direct entry in Pakistan, Yasushi Ito, MD, Yamaha Pakistan says that “from 2000 onwards, Pakistan’s motorcycle industry started to see reasonable growth, which then became quite rapid by 2008 with the introduction of low cost Chinese bikes. Yamaha had made a recommendation that the Dawood Group introduce our new models and expand production capacity. However, their perceptions were different and the discussions bore no fruit. We were already considering moving formally to Pakistan, so we thought it was time to part with the Dawood Group and set up our own manufacturing facility to capture the rapidly growing market in Pakistan.”
However, entering the Pakistani market proved to be a major challenge for Yamaha, largely due to the hefty import duties imposed on completely built up (CBU) motorbikes and on parts by the government.
Ito elaborates: “We had to import all the parts, which meant we had to pay a 40% import duty on each and every part of our bikes. With such a duty structure, it was not possible to compete in terms of prices, so in 2008 we started negotiating for new-entrant benefits with the government and made our case on the basis that we would invest in local training, introduce advanced technologies and safety standards and add to Pakistan’s exports in terms of bikes. Finally, the current cabinet approved our appeal on the condition that we started with 15% localisation and a commitment to add another 15% every year.”
Convincing the government was only part of the challenge and for Yamaha the real deal is to convince people to buy a high priced and a high-cc sports-bike.
The 70cc bike category accounts for 80% of the market share in Pakistan and the 100+cc for a mere 15% share – Honda and Suzuki are the major players and Rs 102,000 to 120,000 is the average price in this category. This puts Yamaha YBR-125’s (a 125cc bike) price tag of Rs 129,400 at the higher end. Nevertheless, Yasushi is confident that YBR’s sporty design and advanced features (self-ignition, EURO II OHV engine technology and five speed transmission) will be enough to attract customers to a heavier and more expensive motorbike. He also believes that being in the 125cc category gives Yamaha an edge over the competition.
“The competition in terms of prices is fierce in the 70cc category and we would not have been able to compete there as a new entrant. So we decided to go for the 100+cc category, which lacks innovation and which although a small category, is growing at a rate of 15% every year."
— Yasushi Ito, MD, Yamaha Pakistan
"Moreover, the younger generation, which is our target market, is well exposed to international standards in bikes and there is a high demand for advanced and heavier bikes like the YBR-125,” Ito ads.
To service this demand, Yamaha has planned a production map that starts from 40,000 units in the first year and will reach the 150,000 mark within four years, a figure which could put a major dent in the market shares of local manufacturers, as well as local exporters, given that Yamaha is set on targeting international markets like Afghanistan, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. To achieve their sales mark in this category locally, Yamaha has established a large sales and service network consisting of 637 dealers, sales, service and spare parts centres.
However, all those people who were starry eyed about Yamaha’s initial ad campaign, which featured everything from off-road buggies, speed boats, scooties, motorcycles, superbikes, electric generators, to jet-skis (thereby hinting that Yamaha would bring its full product line up to Pakistan) will be slightly disappointed.
Yamaha's launch TVC.
“The initial ad campaign was to announce the launch of Yamaha in Pakistan and show-off Yamaha’s capabilities in terms of technology,” says Owais Hamid Khan, CEO, Ideas Workshop, Yamaha’s creative agency.
As to whether the objective of the campaign was to change perceptions in Pakistan, given that Yamaha bikes under the DYL mark had earned the reputation of being ‘doodh-walas’ bikes because they were very popular among milkmen, Khan replies in the negative.
“Although our current ad campaigns are targeted at younger and aware audiences, we do not plan to change the overall image. Yamaha as a company owns its customers. The bike which was popular with the milk-sellers was a very sturdy model that said a lot about the quality of Yamaha’s bikes.”
In Khan’s opinion, the YBR-125 is an innovative product that will attract attention from buyers and translate into major sales and therefore marketing will not be too much of a challenge.
Some motorbike dealers, however, remain sceptical. According to one dealer on McLeod Road in Lahore, “Motorbikes below the 150cc category are still not a young boy’s toy in Pakistan. These bikes are largely a mode of transportation for middle class families."
"YBR-125’s sporty design, especially its seat does not quite fit the needs of a family and may not appeal to them. Moreover, the price difference between Yamaha and Honda might not seem a lot, but it is a major consideration for people who earn Rs 35,000 a month.”
Another dealer in the same area was more positive. “Young people constitute a major chunk of our population and the middle class is also growing; this means that more young people will have money to buy their own bike. The product might not appeal to families, but it caters very well to the needs of young people who are more interested in performance and looks rather than practicality. Then there are young families who own cars but who also use bikes as a secondary mode of transport for their daily chores to avoid getting stuck in the traffic. Such families will also be a major market for YBR-125, as they want a mix of good looks and practicality.”
What is clear, however is that Yamaha’s entry in Pakistan will not only up the game in the motorcycle industry and potentially do away with the stagnancy that has been prevalent for years, it will give buyers multiple choices to enjoy the benefits of the technical innovations the rest of the world has been long enjoying.
Yamaha makes a comeback - Marketing - Aurora
Govt will spend Rs 31 bln on different water projects
The government will spend about thirty one billion rupees for different water related projects in various parts of the country during the current financial year.
According to official sources, priority is being given to the construction of Diamer Bhasha and Dasu dams. The government has already provided 15 billion rupees for land acquisition for 4500 megawatt Diamer Basha dam.
The sources said the government plans to build small dams in Balochistan. This year work on Basool Dam in Gwadar will be started while work is in advanced stages on projects such as Kachi canal and Naulang storage dam.
In Punjab, the government is planning to start work on construction of Ghabir Dam in Chakwal while in Sindh work will be started on Makhi Farash Link Canal project.
Similarly, numerous schemes of lining of water courses will be undertaken in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Punjab provinces to reduce water wastage.
Radio Pakistan
IDB releases fund for Neelum-Jhelum project
ISLAMABAD: The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and Pakistan on Friday resolved the lingering controversy over halt in funding of $430 million for 969MW Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project so now the IDB and Saudi Fund for Development would release their committed flow of funding.
“Both sides have signed minutes of agreement which will pave the way for release of funds from the IDB and co-financers of this project,” a senior official of government confirmed to The News here on Friday. In the aftermath of revision of the cost of the project, the contractor of the project was reluctant to sign performance guarantee but now issues have been resolved amicably.
Minister for Finance Senator Ishaq Dar held a meeting with the delegation of Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and Saudi Fund for Development at the Ministry of Finance to finalise the financing arrangements of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydro Power Project. Federal Minister for Water & Power Khwaja Mohammad Asif and Minister of State for Water & Power Abid Sher Ali were also present in the meeting.
The cost of Neelum-Jhelum project was revised upward from Rs274 billion to Rs412 billion after making changes in design of the project as well as inserting cost of tunnel boring machines. The revised PC-1 will be considered by the Planning Commission in days ahead.
According to statement issued by Finance Ministry, Dar welcomed the delegation and thanked them for taking time out in Ramazan for discussing the financing issues on the funding of the NJHPP project.
It may be mentioned that in the last meeting on the subject, a sub-committee was formed to discuss the issues that still need to be resolved in this project. EAD, Ministry of Water & power and Wapda shared the table to discuss the concerns of the financers on various matters and finally reached the consensus on the outstanding issues.
The finance minister said, “It gives me great pleasure to announce that IDB and the co-financers on the project have agreed to continue funding of the Neelum Jehlum Hydro Power Project. The project will be completed in the tenure of the current government and will prove to be a symbol of pride for the Nation.”
The prime minister had handed over the responsibility of resolving financing and other related issues of the project to the finance minister in the Cabinet Committee on Energy meeting.IDB Energy Specialist Dr Farid Ahmad Khan said that the interest taken by government of Pakistan for early completion of this project is highly appreciated. “We also would like to thank the Ministries of Finance and Water & Power, which have come up with out of box solutions to expedite the work on the project, he said. He also thanked Senator Dar for his keen interest and guidance through which the process bore fruitful results,” he said.
Khwaja Asif thanked the delegation for being helpful and open-minded in resolving the issues related to the project. “The project, soon to be completed, will prove to be a marvel on which the PML-N leadership, IDB and other financers will feel proud of Mr Nasir Al-Kasabi from the Saudi Fund for Development. We support the project and hope that Pakistan will immensely benefit out of the project,” he said.The meeting was participated be Secretary EAD and other senior members of EAD, Finance Division, Ministry of Water & Power, IDB and SFD.
IDB releases fund for Neelum-Jhelum project - thenews.com.pk
Punjab Govt Establishing Mega Kidney, Liver, Research Institute
Punjab Government is establishing a mega kidney, liver institute and research centre in Lahore at an estimated cost of 12 billion rupees to provide modern treatment facilities to the patients, including transplants.
The government has already allocated 50 acres of land adjacent to Lahore Knowledge Park and released 300 million rupees for this purpose.
President Board of Governors of the project Dr Saeed Akhtar in an interview to APP in Lahore said the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Centre would house the biggest Urology, Nephrology, Hematology and the Transplant Centre in the world with 400 beds and 100 dialysis beds.
It would fulfil the needs of Punjab and northern Pakistan, serving the poor and rich under one roof, on non-profit basis.
Radio Pakistan
Japan grants Rs1.6 bln to replace weather surveillance radar in Karachi
Japan will replace the weather surveillance radar in Karachi with a grant of 1.6 billion rupees.
Signing ceremony to this effect was held in Islamabad today at which Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Inomata exchanged the notes with Secretary of Economic Affairs Division Muhammad Saleem Sethi.
The new radar will have a 450-kilomete radius of information processing for consumption of Pakistan Meteorological Department.
Radio Pakistan
Food security: Japan to fund FATA agriculture uplift project
An agreement on this was penned by Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Inomata and FAO Representative in Pakistan Patrick Evans, according to a press release. A grant agreement on the implementation of the project was signed by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative Mitsuyoshi Kawasaki and Evans immediately afterwards.
National Food Security and Research Minister Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, who was also present, said the Government of Pakistan and its departments in Fata will be working closely with the FAO and JICA to ensure they reach local communities and help ensure food security in the tribal belt.
The project is in line with the FATA Secretariat’s sustainable return and rehabilitation strategy and aims to help stabilise the area and address poverty in Khyber and Kurram agencies by restoring and improving agriculture yields, supporting land reclamation and water resource rehabilitation, capacity building and skills training. The project would benefit some 195,000 returning IDPs in Khyber and Kurram agencies.
Ambassador Inomata pointed out that the stability of FATA is essential for the stability of Pakistan. He said that the project aims to enhance people’s livelihoods by restoring agriculture, which is the mainstay of the region’s economy. He added that he hopes the project will also promote sustainable return of displaced persons.
Kawasaki said that stabilisation and development of the Af-Pak border areas is one of the priorities of Japan and JICA’s cooperation with Pakistan and he sincerely hoped that this project will contribute to restoration and improvement of the agriculture and livestock-based livelihoods of displaced families returning to Kurram and Khyber agencies. He also said that this project is expected to have synergy with JICA’s ongoing technical cooperation in agricultural in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Evans, said, “Rebuilding agriculture production is critical as people return to ensure food security and rebuild local economies.”
Evans expressed gratitude to the Government of Japan and JICA for their support and stated that he looked forward to working with them and the FATA Secretariat in supporting sustainable returns and development in Fata.
1,320 MW Sahiwal Coal Power Plant
Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif has termed Sahiwal Coal-Power Project a great example of Pak-China friendship.
He was holding a video conference from Lahore, with the President of Chinese Power Company Huang Sheng Dong, Mr. Wang Wen Dong in Beijing on Tuesday.
Both sides discussed progress in various important issues regarding the project.
They watched the videos of ongoing construction work on the site and agreed to take all out measures for speedy completion of the project.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said all possible measures are being taken for smooth transportation of coal from Karachi port to the site.
He assured every facility have to the Chinese company's engineers and other staff at the site.
The President of Chinese Company assured that this project will be completed according to Chief Minister's vision.
Radio Pakistan
1,000 MW Bahawalpur Solar Project
The fact that the parts from a motorbike made in the 1980s can still fit perfectly on a 2015 model bike goes to show how stagnant Pakistan’s motorbike industry has been in terms of innovation. However, the recent wave of advancements to sweep across the automobile industry have finally started to seep into the motorcycle industry, and almost six years after exiting the market, Yamaha was back in April this year with the launch of the YBR-125, an advanced bike with a sporty look.
Yamaha first came to Pakistan in the 1970s via a joint venture with the Dawood Group (known as DYL) and for decades remained the second largest player in the motorbike segment, trailing just behind Honda. However, by the year 2000, DYL’s market share started declining sharply, partially due to the introduction of low cost and comparatively advanced Chinese bikes and partially because of lack of innovation in DYL’s own products.
Explaining the reasons behind DYL’s decline and Yamaha’s recent direct entry in Pakistan, Yasushi Ito, MD, Yamaha Pakistan says that “from 2000 onwards, Pakistan’s motorcycle industry started to see reasonable growth, which then became quite rapid by 2008 with the introduction of low cost Chinese bikes. Yamaha had made a recommendation that the Dawood Group introduce our new models and expand production capacity. However, their perceptions were different and the discussions bore no fruit. We were already considering moving formally to Pakistan, so we thought it was time to part with the Dawood Group and set up our own manufacturing facility to capture the rapidly growing market in Pakistan.”
However, entering the Pakistani market proved to be a major challenge for Yamaha, largely due to the hefty import duties imposed on completely built up (CBU) motorbikes and on parts by the government.
Ito elaborates: “We had to import all the parts, which meant we had to pay a 40% import duty on each and every part of our bikes. With such a duty structure, it was not possible to compete in terms of prices, so in 2008 we started negotiating for new-entrant benefits with the government and made our case on the basis that we would invest in local training, introduce advanced technologies and safety standards and add to Pakistan’s exports in terms of bikes. Finally, the current cabinet approved our appeal on the condition that we started with 15% localisation and a commitment to add another 15% every year.”
Convincing the government was only part of the challenge and for Yamaha the real deal is to convince people to buy a high priced and a high-cc sports-bike.
The 70cc bike category accounts for 80% of the market share in Pakistan and the 100+cc for a mere 15% share – Honda and Suzuki are the major players and Rs 102,000 to 120,000 is the average price in this category. This puts Yamaha YBR-125’s (a 125cc bike) price tag of Rs 129,400 at the higher end. Nevertheless, Yasushi is confident that YBR’s sporty design and advanced features (self-ignition, EURO II OHV engine technology and five speed transmission) will be enough to attract customers to a heavier and more expensive motorbike. He also believes that being in the 125cc category gives Yamaha an edge over the competition.
“The competition in terms of prices is fierce in the 70cc category and we would not have been able to compete there as a new entrant. So we decided to go for the 100+cc category, which lacks innovation and which although a small category, is growing at a rate of 15% every year."
— Yasushi Ito, MD, Yamaha Pakistan
"Moreover, the younger generation, which is our target market, is well exposed to international standards in bikes and there is a high demand for advanced and heavier bikes like the YBR-125,” Ito ads.
To service this demand, Yamaha has planned a production map that starts from 40,000 units in the first year and will reach the 150,000 mark within four years, a figure which could put a major dent in the market shares of local manufacturers, as well as local exporters, given that Yamaha is set on targeting international markets like Afghanistan, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. To achieve their sales mark in this category locally, Yamaha has established a large sales and service network consisting of 637 dealers, sales, service and spare parts centres.
However, all those people who were starry eyed about Yamaha’s initial ad campaign, which featured everything from off-road buggies, speed boats, scooties, motorcycles, superbikes, electric generators, to jet-skis (thereby hinting that Yamaha would bring its full product line up to Pakistan) will be slightly disappointed.
Yamaha's launch TVC.
“The initial ad campaign was to announce the launch of Yamaha in Pakistan and show-off Yamaha’s capabilities in terms of technology,” says Owais Hamid Khan, CEO, Ideas Workshop, Yamaha’s creative agency.
As to whether the objective of the campaign was to change perceptions in Pakistan, given that Yamaha bikes under the DYL mark had earned the reputation of being ‘doodh-walas’ bikes because they were very popular among milkmen, Khan replies in the negative.
“Although our current ad campaigns are targeted at younger and aware audiences, we do not plan to change the overall image. Yamaha as a company owns its customers. The bike which was popular with the milk-sellers was a very sturdy model that said a lot about the quality of Yamaha’s bikes.”
In Khan’s opinion, the YBR-125 is an innovative product that will attract attention from buyers and translate into major sales and therefore marketing will not be too much of a challenge.
Some motorbike dealers, however, remain sceptical. According to one dealer on McLeod Road in Lahore, “Motorbikes below the 150cc category are still not a young boy’s toy in Pakistan. These bikes are largely a mode of transportation for middle class families."
"YBR-125’s sporty design, especially its seat does not quite fit the needs of a family and may not appeal to them. Moreover, the price difference between Yamaha and Honda might not seem a lot, but it is a major consideration for people who earn Rs 35,000 a month.”
Another dealer in the same area was more positive. “Young people constitute a major chunk of our population and the middle class is also growing; this means that more young people will have money to buy their own bike. The product might not appeal to families, but it caters very well to the needs of young people who are more interested in performance and looks rather than practicality. Then there are young families who own cars but who also use bikes as a secondary mode of transport for their daily chores to avoid getting stuck in the traffic. Such families will also be a major market for YBR-125, as they want a mix of good looks and practicality.”
What is clear, however is that Yamaha’s entry in Pakistan will not only up the game in the motorcycle industry and potentially do away with the stagnancy that has been prevalent for years, it will give buyers multiple choices to enjoy the benefits of the technical innovations the rest of the world has been long enjoying.
Yamaha makes a comeback - Marketing - Aurora
Govt will spend Rs 31 bln on different water projects
The government will spend about thirty one billion rupees for different water related projects in various parts of the country during the current financial year.
According to official sources, priority is being given to the construction of Diamer Bhasha and Dasu dams. The government has already provided 15 billion rupees for land acquisition for 4500 megawatt Diamer Basha dam.
The sources said the government plans to build small dams in Balochistan. This year work on Basool Dam in Gwadar will be started while work is in advanced stages on projects such as Kachi canal and Naulang storage dam.
In Punjab, the government is planning to start work on construction of Ghabir Dam in Chakwal while in Sindh work will be started on Makhi Farash Link Canal project.
Similarly, numerous schemes of lining of water courses will be undertaken in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Punjab provinces to reduce water wastage.
Radio Pakistan
IDB releases fund for Neelum-Jhelum project
ISLAMABAD: The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and Pakistan on Friday resolved the lingering controversy over halt in funding of $430 million for 969MW Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project so now the IDB and Saudi Fund for Development would release their committed flow of funding.
“Both sides have signed minutes of agreement which will pave the way for release of funds from the IDB and co-financers of this project,” a senior official of government confirmed to The News here on Friday. In the aftermath of revision of the cost of the project, the contractor of the project was reluctant to sign performance guarantee but now issues have been resolved amicably.
Minister for Finance Senator Ishaq Dar held a meeting with the delegation of Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and Saudi Fund for Development at the Ministry of Finance to finalise the financing arrangements of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydro Power Project. Federal Minister for Water & Power Khwaja Mohammad Asif and Minister of State for Water & Power Abid Sher Ali were also present in the meeting.
The cost of Neelum-Jhelum project was revised upward from Rs274 billion to Rs412 billion after making changes in design of the project as well as inserting cost of tunnel boring machines. The revised PC-1 will be considered by the Planning Commission in days ahead.
According to statement issued by Finance Ministry, Dar welcomed the delegation and thanked them for taking time out in Ramazan for discussing the financing issues on the funding of the NJHPP project.
It may be mentioned that in the last meeting on the subject, a sub-committee was formed to discuss the issues that still need to be resolved in this project. EAD, Ministry of Water & power and Wapda shared the table to discuss the concerns of the financers on various matters and finally reached the consensus on the outstanding issues.
The finance minister said, “It gives me great pleasure to announce that IDB and the co-financers on the project have agreed to continue funding of the Neelum Jehlum Hydro Power Project. The project will be completed in the tenure of the current government and will prove to be a symbol of pride for the Nation.”
The prime minister had handed over the responsibility of resolving financing and other related issues of the project to the finance minister in the Cabinet Committee on Energy meeting.IDB Energy Specialist Dr Farid Ahmad Khan said that the interest taken by government of Pakistan for early completion of this project is highly appreciated. “We also would like to thank the Ministries of Finance and Water & Power, which have come up with out of box solutions to expedite the work on the project, he said. He also thanked Senator Dar for his keen interest and guidance through which the process bore fruitful results,” he said.
Khwaja Asif thanked the delegation for being helpful and open-minded in resolving the issues related to the project. “The project, soon to be completed, will prove to be a marvel on which the PML-N leadership, IDB and other financers will feel proud of Mr Nasir Al-Kasabi from the Saudi Fund for Development. We support the project and hope that Pakistan will immensely benefit out of the project,” he said.The meeting was participated be Secretary EAD and other senior members of EAD, Finance Division, Ministry of Water & Power, IDB and SFD.
IDB releases fund for Neelum-Jhelum project - thenews.com.pk
Punjab Govt Establishing Mega Kidney, Liver, Research Institute
Punjab Government is establishing a mega kidney, liver institute and research centre in Lahore at an estimated cost of 12 billion rupees to provide modern treatment facilities to the patients, including transplants.
The government has already allocated 50 acres of land adjacent to Lahore Knowledge Park and released 300 million rupees for this purpose.
President Board of Governors of the project Dr Saeed Akhtar in an interview to APP in Lahore said the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Centre would house the biggest Urology, Nephrology, Hematology and the Transplant Centre in the world with 400 beds and 100 dialysis beds.
It would fulfil the needs of Punjab and northern Pakistan, serving the poor and rich under one roof, on non-profit basis.
Radio Pakistan
Japan grants Rs1.6 bln to replace weather surveillance radar in Karachi
Japan will replace the weather surveillance radar in Karachi with a grant of 1.6 billion rupees.
Signing ceremony to this effect was held in Islamabad today at which Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Inomata exchanged the notes with Secretary of Economic Affairs Division Muhammad Saleem Sethi.
The new radar will have a 450-kilomete radius of information processing for consumption of Pakistan Meteorological Department.
Radio Pakistan
Food security: Japan to fund FATA agriculture uplift project
An agreement on this was penned by Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Inomata and FAO Representative in Pakistan Patrick Evans, according to a press release. A grant agreement on the implementation of the project was signed by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative Mitsuyoshi Kawasaki and Evans immediately afterwards.
National Food Security and Research Minister Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, who was also present, said the Government of Pakistan and its departments in Fata will be working closely with the FAO and JICA to ensure they reach local communities and help ensure food security in the tribal belt.
The project is in line with the FATA Secretariat’s sustainable return and rehabilitation strategy and aims to help stabilise the area and address poverty in Khyber and Kurram agencies by restoring and improving agriculture yields, supporting land reclamation and water resource rehabilitation, capacity building and skills training. The project would benefit some 195,000 returning IDPs in Khyber and Kurram agencies.
Ambassador Inomata pointed out that the stability of FATA is essential for the stability of Pakistan. He said that the project aims to enhance people’s livelihoods by restoring agriculture, which is the mainstay of the region’s economy. He added that he hopes the project will also promote sustainable return of displaced persons.
Kawasaki said that stabilisation and development of the Af-Pak border areas is one of the priorities of Japan and JICA’s cooperation with Pakistan and he sincerely hoped that this project will contribute to restoration and improvement of the agriculture and livestock-based livelihoods of displaced families returning to Kurram and Khyber agencies. He also said that this project is expected to have synergy with JICA’s ongoing technical cooperation in agricultural in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Evans, said, “Rebuilding agriculture production is critical as people return to ensure food security and rebuild local economies.”
Evans expressed gratitude to the Government of Japan and JICA for their support and stated that he looked forward to working with them and the FATA Secretariat in supporting sustainable returns and development in Fata.
1,320 MW Sahiwal Coal Power Plant
Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif has termed Sahiwal Coal-Power Project a great example of Pak-China friendship.
He was holding a video conference from Lahore, with the President of Chinese Power Company Huang Sheng Dong, Mr. Wang Wen Dong in Beijing on Tuesday.
Both sides discussed progress in various important issues regarding the project.
They watched the videos of ongoing construction work on the site and agreed to take all out measures for speedy completion of the project.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said all possible measures are being taken for smooth transportation of coal from Karachi port to the site.
He assured every facility have to the Chinese company's engineers and other staff at the site.
The President of Chinese Company assured that this project will be completed according to Chief Minister's vision.
Radio Pakistan
1,000 MW Bahawalpur Solar Project
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Muhammad Omar
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sorry what? drunh what is the meaning of this ??
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