ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) approved development projects worth Rs 74.48 billion on Tuesday.
The CDWP meeting was chaired by Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal.
The meeting also recommended the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) to approve six mega projects in energy, transport communication and health sectors.
The CDW also accorded concept-clearance to two foreign-funded projects worth Rs 27.5 billion, proposed by the Sindh government.
In the energy sector, CDWP recommended three megaprojects worth Rs 27 billion to ECNEC, including construction of new 132 kv grid stations and transmissions lines, distribution rehabilitation (energy loss reduction) and distribution expansion. All the three projects were proposed by Sukkur Electric Supply Company to upgrade the power distribution system and ensure loss reduction by installation of new grid stations, transmission lines and transformers in Sukkur, Jacobabad and adjacent districts.
Minister Ahsan Iqbal said that the three projects must be completed within a year.
The CDWP also approved two projects in the health sector, including Prime Minister’s National Health Programme worth Rs 8.1 billion and up-gradation of non-radiation modern endoscopy diagnostic services in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (SZABMU) Islamabad, worth Rs 465 million.
The minister said that deserving families should be facilitated through the programme. “The officials should work out a detailed five-year plan to assess the financial impact of the initiative,” he said.
The CDWP also approved four projects in the education sector, including three projects in Balochistan. A project of strengthening University of Education, Lahore was discussed in detail. The CDWP approved only one portion of the project to strengthen the Lahore-based campuses of this university.
The minister instructed officials of Higher Education Commission to ensure consolidation of resources and discourage mushroom growth of universities and its networks.
The minister directed the HEC officials to finalise a national framework for degree-awarding institutes and conduct an academic audit for ensuring quality.
The CDWP also approved project of University Collage of Dera Murad Jamali, Nasirabad, worth Rs 1.5 billion. It also approved a project for the establishment of University College of Zhob, under University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences at the cost of Rs 1.2 billion. The CDWP asked for reconsideration of a project for the provision of quality education opportunities to the students of FATA and Balochistan in cadet colleges, vocational and other institutes. It said that instead of the HEC, the Ministry of Education should propose this initiative for speedy implementation by ensuring coordination with FATA and Baluchistan’s administration.
The meeting also approved establishment/up gradation of Gwadar University project worth Rs 67 million.
The 1,000 Industrial Stitching Unit (Phase-1) Project worth Rs 490 million was approved by the CDWP. A committee was formed to report in 30 days.
The CDWP also approved two projects for the construction of IB Offices along with CPEC and construction/ extension of residential accommodation of IB Academy worth Rs 580 million.
The meeting approved the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway (LSM) Link (4-lane) via Narang Mandi to Narowal, worth Rs 15.9 billion.
It also approved a project of widening, improvement and rehabilitation of remaining portion from National Highways N-25, Kararo-Wadh Section worth Rs 1.7 billion, instructing for rationalisation of cost.
In transport communication sector, CDWP also approved reopening of rail car from Kohat-Rawalpindi-Kohat on experimental basis, worth Rs 381 million. The CDWP also approved a project for capacity-building of the office of Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters, worth Rs 635.36.
It approved two projects for the construction of small dams in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, worth Rs 2.9 billon.
The CDWP also recommended a position paper of construction of Rathoa-Haryam Bridge.
