The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Wednesday approved Rs 218.2 billion worth of development projects while seven projects of Rs 203.4 billion value were referred to the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval.
The recommended projects include Rs 129.7 billion worth of construction of motorway from Halka-Burhan on M-1 to DI Khan as part of western route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Chairing the CDWP meeting, Ahsan Iqbal said that this portion of western route was being built as per the decisions of all parties conference held in May last year and also approved and recommended land acquisition affected properties compensation and relocation of utilities for construction of motorway from Halka on M-1 to DI Khan at the cost of Rs 13.6 billion.
The CDWP also approved and recommended installation of ship lift and transfer system and associated machinery and equipment to provide docking and facilities to surface shops, submarines and commercial vessels up to dead weight 7.781 tons net lifting capacity at the cost of Rs 9.8 billion.
The meeting also approved and recommended bridge across the River Indus connecting Larkana and Khairpur districts, approach road and river training works at the cost of Rs 13.7 billion. It approved Musa Khail Tounsa Road (35 KM) stretch to be constructed and linked with Zhob at the cost of Rs 2.9 billion.
It also gave approval to feasibility study for construction of breakwater at the eastern end of Jabel-e-Nuh at the cost of Rs 300 million. It also approved development schemes in district Tor Ghar at the cost of Rs 319.4 million and development of schemes in district Mansehra at the cost of Rs 925.7 million.
In higher education, the CDWP approved strengthening of research and academic facilities at Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) Islamabad at the cost of Rs 1.5 billion with foreign exchange component (FEC) of Rs 633 million. It also approved strengthening of academic and research programmes at Bahria University, Islamabad, and Karachi at the cost of Rs 1.5 billion with Rs 237 million foreign exchange component. It also approved up-gradation and strengthening of essential facilities at Sukhur IBA at the cost of Rs 913.1 million with Rs 64 million foreign exchange component.
In education sector, the CDWP approved establishment of smart school, which is part of Vision 2025, at the cost of Rs 238 million and upgradation of ICT high schools at the cost of Rs 465.2 million.
Ahsan Iqbal directed the authorities concerned to make smart school project a flagship project and also develop the education system in Islamabad on the lines that it would be model for whole the country.
In energy sector, the CDWP approved and recommended to ECNEC Golan Gol hydro power project with a total cost of Rs 28.4 billion. The project has Rs 10 billion FEC. It also approved and recommended to ECNEC 500 Kv Islamabad West project at the cost of Rs 3.6 billion.
The CDWP also approved and recommended to ECNEC 30.4 MW Jagran-I hydro power project at the cost of Rs 4.6 billion with a FEC of Rs 2.3 billion. In water resource sector, the CDWP approved Raghagan Small Dam Bajur Agency (Phase-II) at the cost of Rs 423.9 million. It also approved construction of Bada Dam project in Swabi in KPK at the cost of Rs 1.1 billion and construction of small dams in Khaliqabad District Balochistan at the cost of Rs 300 million.
In physical planning and housing sector, the CDWP approved construction of judicial and administration complex in Mauve Area G10/1 Islamabad at the cost of Rs 708.5 million.
In governance sector, the CDWP approved support project for sustainable development goals implementation at the cost of Rs 600 million with Rs 300 FEC. It also approved upgradation of Jawad Azfar Computer Center at the ministry of planning, development and reform at the cost of Rs 386.3 million.
In planning, development and reform sector, the CDWP approved cluster development based industrial transformation plan – Vision 2025 – at the cost of Rs one billion and also approved cluster development based mineral sector transformation plan – Vision 2025 – at the cost of Rs 500 million. It approved establishment of center for social entrepreneurship at ministry of planning at the cost of Rs 128.4 million.
It approved PPMI Center of Excellence at the cost of Rs 100 million and also approved establishment of urban planning and policy center at the cost of Rs 1.5 billion. It also approved concept clearance paper of Solar Power Park at F-9 Park Islamabad.