Kurram Tangi Dam to be gift from PM to Southern districts

PESHAWAR: Senior central leader of Pakistan Muslim League (PML) Salim Saifullah Friday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) members for giving node to Kurram Tangi Dam project.

In a statement issued here, he said it would be a gift from PML-N

leadership including Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif for the people of Southern district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said completion of the project would help irrigate 0.3 million acre barren land of Southern districts besides producing 85 mega watt of electricity.

It is pertinent to mention here that in a meeting of ECNEC headed by Minister for Finance, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the Stage one of the Dam was approved at a reduced cost of Rs. 12.662 billion including USAID grant in aid of Rs. 9.975 billion.

The main objective of the project is to provide 76.15 cubic-ft/sec assured irrigation water supply to bring 16,380 acres of land under cultivation in FATA and generate 18.9 MW electricity.

Saleem Saifullah said the location of the project is in FATA area and it would contribute to socio-economic uplift of North Waziristan. He said the project will also provide water for domestic use of 48,500 population.

Kurram hails launch of Diplomat Business Club for promoting business

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce, Engneer Khurram Dastgir Khan on Friday welcomed the launch of Diplomat Business Club for promoting business and trade relations between Pakistan and other countries.
The Diplomate Business Club, Pakistan Chapter was launched here at an impressive ceremony, said a press release.
The ceremony was attended by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Syed Tariq Fatemi, Ambassador Javed Malik, President of the Diplomat Business Club (Global).
Ambassadors representing more than 30 countries were present along with Pakistani business leaders including Presidents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce as well as senior representatives of FPCCI and SAARC Chamber of Commerce.
A ten-member multinational business delegation that is visiting Pakistan to explore business, trade and investment opportunities was also present on the occasion which included delegates from United Arab Emirates, Canada, United Kingdom, Malaysia, Portugal, and United States.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Syed Tariq Fatemi also appreciated the formation of Diplomat Business Club's Pakistan chapter.
He expressed the confidence that this initiative led by Ambassador Javed Malik would open the doors for closer collaboration between businessmen and diplomats to explore further opportunities of mutual cooperation.
He congratulated Ambassador Javed Malik for taking this initiative, adding that it should be expanded in other major cities of the country.
In his keynote address,President of the Diplomat Business Club (Global) Ambassador Javed Malik,highlighted the significance of the trade and economic diplomacy in today's world.
Javid Malik said that Club provides a platform for diplomats and business leaders to work together in the common pursuit of expanding business and trade relations between their countries and also creates networking opportunities for businessmen from different countries to collaborate with each other.
He paid tribute to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's vision for economic development.
He said "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the government has clear road map to take Pakistan out of the challenges and put it on the road for progress and prosperity, and the world community appreciates the positive steps taken by the Prime Minister and his team".

ECNEC approves Stage-1 of Kurram Tangi Dam

ISLAMABAD: Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) Thursday approved Kurram Tangi Multipurpose Dam Stage-1 (Kaitu Weir Irrigation and Power) Project, located in North Waziristan Agency, Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
In a meeting of ECNEC headed by Minister for Finance, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the Stage one of the Dam was approved at a reduced cost of Rs 12.662 billion including USAID grant in aid of Rs 9.975 billion.
The main objective of the project is to provide 76.15 cubic-ft/sec assured irrigation water supply to bring 16,380 acres of land under cultivation in FATA and generate 18.9 MW electricity.
The Minister said that location of the project is in FATA area and it is necessary for socio-economic uplift of North Waziristan, therefore, it should be put on fast track.
The Minister added that the project will also provide water for domestic use of 48,500 population.
ECNEC also considered and approved in principle the Revised PC-I of Sindh Water Sector Improvement Project Phase-I (WSIP-I) in the command area of Ghotki feeder, Nara, Fuleli and Akram Wah canals at a reduced cost of Rs 30.353 billion including International Development Association (IDA) loan of Rs 28.840 billion.
The Government of Sindh will return IDA loan from their own resources and reflect its financing in their provincial ADP.
The objective of project is to improve the effectiveness and operational efficiency of water distribution by ensuring the safety of the canal system and delivering due share of water to the farmers at the tail end of the irrigation system.
Moreover, ECNEC also approved Revised PC-I of Gomal Zam Multipurpose Project at revised/rationalized cost of Rs 20.626 billion which include USAID grant in aid of Rs 10.721 billion (US $ 97 million).
Main objective of the project is to harness flow water and conserve the perennial flow for providing assured irrigation water supply of 848 cusecs (24 cumecs) to irrigate 191,139 acres of land including 28,053 acres additional land which falls under the command of Waran Canal System and generate 17.4MW electricity.
ECNEC considered and approved Gomal Zam Command Area Development and On-Farm Water Management for High Value and High Efficiency Agriculture Project, located in D.I. Khan and Tank Districts, at a rationalized cost of Rs.3.73 billion including USAID grant in aid of Rs.2.2 billion.
The project is devised to develop the command area of Gomal Zam Dam through 848 cusecs of sustainable irrigation water supply which will bring 191,139 acres of land under cultivation. The completion date for project is fiscal year 2014- 15.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Pervez Rashid, Minister for Science and Technology, Zahid Hamid, Minister of State for Information Technology, Anusha Rehman, Adviser to Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah and senior officials of the Federal and Provincial Governments.

ECNEC approves Stage-1 of Kurram Tangi Dam

ISLAMABAD: Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) Thursday approved Kurram Tangi Multipurpose Dam Stage-1 (Kaitu Weir Irrigation and Power) Project, located in North Waziristan Agency, Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
In a meeting of ECNEC headed by Minister for Finance, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the Stage one of the Dam was approved at a reduced cost of Rs 12.662 billion including USAID grant in aid of Rs 9.975 billion.
The main objective of the project is to provide 76.15 cubic-ft/sec assured irrigation water supply to bring 16,380 acres of land under cultivation in FATA and generate 18.9 MW electricity.
The Minister said that location of the project is in FATA area and it is necessary for socio-economic uplift of North Waziristan, therefore, it should be put on fast track.
The Minister added that the project will also provide water for domestic use of 48,500 population.
ECNEC also considered and approved in principle the Revised PC-I of Sindh Water Sector Improvement Project Phase-I (WSIP-I) in the command area of Ghotki feeder, Nara, Fuleli and Akram Wah canals at a reduced cost of Rs 30.353 billion including International Development Association (IDA) loan of Rs 28.840 billion.
The Government of Sindh will return IDA loan from their own resources and reflect its financing in their provincial ADP.
The objective of project is to improve the effectiveness and operational efficiency of water distribution by ensuring the safety of the canal system and delivering due share of water to the farmers at the tail end of the irrigation system.
Moreover, ECNEC also approved Revised PC-I of Gomal Zam Multipurpose Project at revised/rationalized cost of Rs 20.626 billion which include USAID grant in aid of Rs 10.721 billion (US $ 97 million).
Main objective of the project is to harness flow water and conserve the perennial flow for providing assured irrigation water supply of 848 cusecs (24 cumecs) to irrigate 191,139 acres of land including 28,053 acres additional land which falls under the command of Waran Canal System and generate 17.4MW electricity.
ECNEC considered and approved Gomal Zam Command Area Development and On-Farm Water Management for High Value and High Efficiency Agriculture Project, located in D.I. Khan and Tank Districts, at a rationalized cost of Rs.3.73 billion including USAID grant in aid of Rs.2.2 billion.
The project is devised to develop the command area of Gomal Zam Dam through 848 cusecs of sustainable irrigation water supply which will bring 191,139 acres of land under cultivation. The completion date for project is fiscal year 2014- 15.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Pervez Rashid, Minister for Science and Technology, Zahid Hamid, Minister of State for Information Technology, Anusha Rehman, Adviser to Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah and senior officials of the Federal and Provincial Governments.