The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Friday approved 13 development projects worth Rs 91 billion; of these four energy projects were recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). The four projects envisage strengthening transmission and distribution system, improving voltage profile, system reliability and efficiency in the power sector.
The CDWP meeting was chaired by Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal and attended by senior federal and provincial officials. In the energy sector, CDWP approved 220 KV Mirpur Khas substation along with associated transmission lines at the cost of Rs 4.153 billion, 220 KV Dera Ismail Khan-Zhob Double Circuit Transmission along with 220 KV Zhob substation at the cost of Rs 6.624 billion, seven secondary transmission lines and grid stations at the cost of Rs 20.681 billion and 500 KV HVAC Transmission Lines for interconnection of HVDC with HVAC at Matiari and Lahore at the cost of Rs 5.112 billion.
In the transport and communication sector, CDWP approved Rs 34.365 billion worth of Hasanabdal-Havelian Expressway project and recommended it to ECNEC. It includes the construction of five interchanges, 40 bridges, 18 vehicular and pedestrian underpasses, culverts, retaining walls, cross drainage and erosion works with allied facilities for a six lane facility.
CDWP approved land acquisition, effected properties compensation and relocation of utilities for the construction of Lahore-Sialkot Motorway at the cost of Rs 6.360 billion and land acquisition, affected properties and relocation of utilities for construction of a 6-lane highway from Kalashah Kaku to Lahore Ring Road including a bridge over River Ravi at the cost of Rs 10.829 billion. Both projects were recommended to ECNEC. It also approved the construction of a pre-stress bridge from Mangri to Fatehpur Afghan Nullah Bahein Narowal at the cost of almost Rs 0.811 million.
In water resource and environment sector, CDWP approved the construction of 100 dams in Tehsil Dubandal Gulistan Killa Abdullah and Chaman area district Killa Abdullah at the cost of Rs 1.591 billion. It aims to harness rainwater for cultivation of 25,000 acres of agricultural land and will also help improve water table by recharging groundwater in the district.
In physical planning and housing sector, CDWP approved reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Prime Minister’s Office at the cost of Rs 202 million and the construction of Secretariat Mosque at the cost of Rs 475 million.
CDWP approved acquisition of 4.17 acres land for the construction of Session-Division East at Mauve Road Sector G 11/4 at the cost of almost Rs 194 million and acquisition of 3.207 acres of land for extension of Islamabad High Court Building at Islamabad at the cost of Rs 69.88 million.
In governance sector, CDWP approved the position paper of ‘Young Development Fellowship Programme’ project and ‘Support and Monitoring of High Impact New Initiatives (HINI) of Visio-2025’ project of Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform.