The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved eleven development projects in different sectors.

The approval was granted at a meeting of the committee held in Islamabad today, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Some major projects approved during the meeting include the construction of the 40.8 MW Koto Hydropower Project in Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the development of 100 MW distributed solar photovoltaic plants in Gilgit-Baltistan, and the construction of two road projects, remodelling of the Lasbela Canal and a water supply scheme for Gwadar in Balochistan.

Other projects include the Punjab Urban Land Systems Enhancement Project, the construction and upgradation of the Dirgi-Shah-Bozai to Taunsa Sharif Road, the establishment of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Hospital in Tarlai, Islamabad, and a purpose-built laboratory for the National Forensic Agency.

On the occasion, the deputy prime minister stressed the importance of completing development projects within the stipulated time and without cost overruns.

He directed the authorities concerned to maintain financial discipline and remove procedural bottlenecks, adding that development projects should serve public welfare.