CDWP approves 10 projects worth Rs40.9bn, refers three to ECNEC
The Central Development Working Party approved 10 schemes valued at Rs40.915 billion on Monday. It recommended three larger projects worth Rs172.25 billion to ECNEC for final approval.
- 10 projects worth Rs40.915 billion approved by CDWP
- Three projects worth Rs172.25 billion referred to ECNEC
- Two referred irrigation schemes are co-financed by the ADB
The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) evaluated 13 development projects at a meeting in Islamabad on Monday. It approved 10 of them, valued at Rs40.915 billion, and recommended three major projects worth a combined Rs172.25 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final consideration. The meeting was chaired by Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, according to a statement.
Two of the three referrals are climate-resilient irrigation schemes co-financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Together they account for Rs129.19 billion. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Resilient Irrigated Agriculture Livelihoods Development Project is valued at Rs69,893 million, with the ADB providing Rs56,132.50 million and the provincial government Rs11,691.90 million. It will rehabilitate the Pehur Main Canal, build the Mulkhow Irrigation Distribution System and extend the Pehur High Level Canal. Land acquisition will be funded through a separate PC-I.
The second is the Integrated Hill Torrent Management (Chachar-Mithawan) project in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur, worth Rs85,342.110 million. The ADB will provide Rs73,060 million and the Punjab government Rs12,282.11 million. It covers spate irrigation, flood protection channels, telemetry and centralised SCADA monitoring.
The third referral is the Prime Minister's Solar Scheme for Newly Merged Districts, valued at Rs13,323 million and approved in principle. It is meant to provide off-grid solar energy solutions to households.
Among the approved projects, Daanish Schools across Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh were cleared at Rs122.400 million, with instructions to rationalise costs. A Daanish School in Kuri, Islamabad, was approved at Rs7,357.233 million, and another in Qila Saifullah, Balochistan, at Rs4,527.838 million.
Schemes approved in principle include the Prime Minister's Youth Development Centres at Rs4,144.854 million, the Talent Hunt Youth Sports League (Phase-I) at Rs3,988.056 million, the National Innovation Award at Rs1,970 million, and sports academies with the Youth Olympics at Rs2,955.927 million. The forum also approved in principle revamping Pakistan Television Corporation at Rs3,962.250 million and a pilot Battery Energy Storage System at the 220kV Jhimpir-I grid station at Rs4,394.720 million.
The party also approved an eight-lane overhead bridge at Imamia Colony Railway Crossing, Shahdara, at Rs7,492.050 million. It recommended to ECNEC the widening of National Highway N-45 from Chakdara to Timergara, a 39-kilometre stretch, at Rs17,012.323 million, to be financed through Exim Bank.
Why it matters
The schemes cover irrigation, flood protection, solar power, schools and roads in several provinces and regions, including Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Balochistan. The three largest now await final approval from ECNEC.
