PHOTO: PID

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has sought a detailed report containing legal, financial and procedural minutiae for the establishment of Naya Pakistan Economic Zone by September 1, 2019. Along with the economic zone, Naya Pakistan Islamabad Expressway Project will also be established.



To look into the effects of the project on environment and other sectors, six separate committees have been established. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, federal law minister, housing and works secretary, Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman and others are members of the committees.



The committees have been ordered to complete their work and submit a report.



Member of the Punjab Assembly and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Aleem Khan has been included in the committees tasked with devising the financial models of the projects.



According to the documents available with The Express Tribune, Prime Minister Imran was given a detailed briefing about the projects, after which, the PM directed all ministries and divisions to complete their work on the projects and submit their reports with the PM Office.



According to the copy of the report available with The Express Tribune, an 11-member high-level committee, headed by Finance Adviser Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, has been constituted for reviewing the financial aspects of the projects. The members of the committee include federal minister for law and justice, federal minister for water resources, attorney general for Pakistan, special assistant to the prime minister on overseas Pakistan and human development, housing and works secretary, State Bank of Pakistan governor, Federal Board of Revenue chairman, Naya Pakistan Housing Authority chairman, CDA chairman and MPA Aleem Khan.



Apart from other aspects, the committee will prepare the financial models of the projects.



Further, the committee will also prepare suggestions regarding special incentives package for the overseas Pakistanis so that they may invest heavily in the projects.



The documents stated that a committee comprising housing and works secretary and CDA chairman has been constituted to determine the environmental impact of the project.



The committee has been directed to work in close coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency and submit a report by September 1, 2019.



For the legal aspects of the projects, a separate six-member committee, headed by Federal Minister for Law and Justice Farogh Naseem, has been constituted.



The members of the committee include Federal Minister for Housing and Works Tariq Bashir Cheema, attorney general for Pakistan, housing and works secretary, Naya Pakistan Housing Authority chairman and CDA chairman.



The committee will ascertain all the legal amendments required for the projects and compile a report within one month and after that it will be decided if any amendments need to be made and if necessary then how will they be done.



According to the documents, after the committee submits its suggestions, it will be determined whether the legal amendments will be made through a presidential ordinance or an act or just through amendment in the relevant rules and regulations.



Apart from this, a committee, headed by the CDA chairman, has been set up to review the Islamabad Master Plan. The committee will work on the plan on a fast-track basis and submit its report.



The documents stated that a three-member committee, headed by housing and works secretary and comprising Naya Pakistan Housing Authority chairman and CDA chairman, has been set up to review the procedural aspects of the projects.



The committee has been tasked with completing consultation, servicing, concept, plan and NOC within six weeks and submit a report so that as soon as the legal aspects of the projects are complete, the projects could be launched.



For the Naya Pakistan Housing Programme, the documents stated, a six-member committee, headed by the finance adviser, has been established.