ISLAMABAD - Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), headed by Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, Thursday, approved 20 projects, with an estimated cost of Rs 260 billion in various fields including a major chunk for Pakistan Railways and small dams. Karachi Circular Railway System with a projected cost of Rs 128 billion has also been approved with modern transport services to the people, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira told a news conference after the ECNEC meeting. Projects like Karachi Circular Railway, the minister hoped, could be introduced in major cities of the country. He said the meeting also decided to conduct third party evaluation of the project costing Rs 128.60 billion with the sole objective to ensure transparency and saving of cost. To a question Qamar Zaman Kaira made it clear the third party evaluation would not affect the overall cost as well as execution of the project. On the issue of PML-Ns point of view on Charter of Democracy (CoD), he reminded that CoD was the initiative of PPP. We regard PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharifs comments but we are committed to the issue of CoD. A constitutional committee headed by Senator Raza Rabbani is already working on the constitutional reforms, Kaira insisted. About the other approved projects, he said the other main project approved was to allow Pakistan Railways to purchase 202 rail coaches to make the organization more viable and profit-making entity. The minister said a project titled Piara Kashmir costing Rs 10.722 billion had also been approved. Under the project, development work would be executed in six districts and 334 villages of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir along the Line of Control (LoC), covering area of 2326 km. He said this allocation would be in addition to the amount given to AJK in PSDP. The Minister said Pakistan Railways was in dire need of coaches and the ECNEC had accorded the approval for Rs 15.9 billion project in view of the reforms being introduced in the organisation. He said 16 projects related to water were approved including 10 small dams projects to ensure water storage and make Pakistan self-sufficient in food area. All these projects would cost Rs 57 billion in the current financial year and the government has allocated an amount of Rs 2.5 billion for the purpose. He said the amount earmarked for the small dams in four provinces included for Balochistan Rs 800 million, NWFP 700 million, Sindh Rs 500 million, and Punjab Rs 500 million. To a question, regarding objection raised on the project at Kabul River, he said in view of power and water needs, the present government was trying to utilize each and every drop of water, adding that if there was any objection, Pakistan would protect its right at all cost. When asked about the losses of PIA and Pakistan Railways, he said present government was not responsible for the losses. Rather we are trying our best to make these organisations profitable and efficient entities with introduction of structural and administrative reforms, he argued. He said the meeting also expressed grief and sorrow over the killing of driver of Religious Affairs Minister, Hamid Saeed Kazmi in a firing incident Wednesday in which Minister and his guards also received bullet injuries. The minister said the meeting also showed its serious concern over pollution in Manchar Lake and asked the industrial units to install water treatment plants to avoid under ground as well as sea pollution.