ISLAMABAD: After securing the approval of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Planning Commission’s Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved two projects for the much-awaited Mainline (ML-1) of railways after involvement of the Asian Development Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
China had earlier refused to involve any other multilateral lenders in ML-1, but following Beijing’s reluctance to fully finance it, other international donors will be involved in cost-sharing with China’s consent.
The preliminary design and drawings for ML-1 and Havelian Dry Port, worth Rs16.26 billion, were referred to ECNEC, a vital step towards modernising Pakistan’s railway system under CPEC Phase-II. Emphasising the urgency of this mega project, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal stated that ML-1 is not just a railway upgrade, it is Pakistan’s leap into the 21st century, adding that while the world is moving towards electric trains, Pakistan must modernise to stay competitive. He urged Pakistan Railways to implement a business plan and commercialise its vast land assets to self-finance infrastructure upgrades to ensure sustainable operations.
The detailed engineering design of ML-1 Rohri-Khanpur-Multan Section amounting to Rs3.21 billion was approved through ADB financing support, marking a milestone in advancing CPEC’s transport connectivity agenda.
The meeting of CDWP, chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Ahsan Iqbal, approved 18 development projects across critical sectors of national growth. Out of these, twelve projects worth Rs35.4 billion were approved at the CDWP level, while six projects amounting to Rs280.2 billion were recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for consideration.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Planning Awais Manzur Sumra, the Vice Chancellor of PIDE, Chief Economist, and senior representatives from federal ministries, provincial departments and development partners.
Recognising agriculture as the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and the cornerstone of food security, the CDWP approved transformative initiatives designed to modernise farming, strengthen value chains and promote climate resilience. The flagship project, Punjab Resilient and Inclusive Agriculture Transformation (PRIAT), worth Rs68.67 billion, was referred to ECNEC. Financed through the World Bank and the government of Punjab, it aims to usher in a new era of climate-smart and community-driven agriculture, ensuring equitable water distribution, strengthening value chains and empowering small farmers through technology and access to markets. Ahsan Iqbal stressed the need to align the initiative with measurable outcomes and past cluster-based studies to enhance value addition and export orientation in agriculture, remarking that every drop of water and every acre of land must translate into prosperity, not just production.
In the same sector, the National Programme for Animal Disease Surveillance and Control, worth Rs7.35 billion, was approved to enhance Pakistan’s compliance with international sanitary standards and boost livestock exports. Additionally, the Punjab Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Agriculture Mechanization Project (P-CLAMP), worth Rs36.12 billion and financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), was referred to ECNEC. The project will improve small farmers access to modern machinery, promote circular agriculture, and support women’s inclusion through digital registration and skill training, ensuring equitable growth across Punjab’s rural landscape.
Under the governance reforms agenda, the Punjab Resource Improvement and Digital Effectiveness (PRIDE) Programme, worth Rs3.08 billion, was approved. Financed by the World Bank, the programme will strengthen public financial management and digital governance, institutionalising transparency, accountability, and smart resource utilisation. The initiative aims to digitise the development cycle, automate project management systems, and modernise public procurement—aligning governance with the E-Pakistan pillar of Uraan Pakistan, which emphasises efficiency through digital transformation. The health sector witnessed three crucial projects approvals reflecting Pakistan’s commitment to universal healthcare and child welfare. Projects included the National Health Support Programme (Rs2.17 billion), Extension of Child Health Facilities in Southern Punjab (Rs6.40 billion) funded by JICA, and D-TALK & Insulin for Life (Rs1.39 billion) funded by XEM Korea. Ahsan Iqbal underscored that each rupee invested in health must yield tangible outcomes, noting that Pakistan’s fiscal space is limited and borrowed resources are a trust from future generations. He instructed the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to integrate diabetes initiatives with the National Diabetes Programme to maximise national health impact.
In pursuit of knowledge-driven economic growth, the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Campus Project in Pattoki, valued at Rs1.46 billion, was approved. The project will expand academic and research facilities, enabling innovation in veterinary sciences—an essential component of Pakistan’s agri-based export economy. The construction of a wastewater treatment plant at Babu Sabu, Lahore, worth Rs52.19 billion, marks a historic step particular in Punjab and as a whole for Pakistan’s environmental infrastructure development. Financed by AFD, the project will treat 88 MGD of wastewater using biogas, solar integration, and advanced sludge management systems to reduce pollution and protect the River Ravi ecosystem. The minister called it a project that should have begun two decades ago but is now essential to ensure clean cities and a sustainable environment.
Three hydropower projects in Azad Jammu and Kashmir were approved to harness local resources and provide clean, reliable energy. These include the Phullawai Hydropower Project (3 MW), the Khurshidabad Hydropower Project (2.71 MW), and the Naushera Hydropower Project (1.95 MW). These small-scale renewable energy projects underscore Pakistan’s commitment to the energy and infrastructure pillar of Uraan Pakistan, strengthening AJK’s local energy production.
The Strengthening Social Protection Delivery System, Sindh, amounting to Rs64.4 billion and co-financed by the World Bank and the government of Sindh, was referred to ECNEC.
The project supports conditional cash transfers for pregnant women and mothers of children under two years, ensuring nutrition, maternal health, and social inclusion. This initiative reflects the equity and empowerment pillar of Uraan Pakistan, ensuring that no mother or child is left behind in the nation’s development journey. Three projects under the Transport & Communications sector were discussed to revolutionise connectivity and logistics efficiency. The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Quetta feasibility study, worth Rs1.24 billion, was approved to improve urban mobility in Balochistan’s capital.
Two critical water sector projects reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to secure its water future. The Kachhi Canal Restoration Project, worth Rs5.65 billion, will repair flood damages and restore irrigation capacity, while the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Irrigated Agriculture Improvement Project, worth Rs50.95 billion and financed by the World Bank, will improve water efficiency through modern irrigation systems, community watercourses, and high-efficiency technologies across merged districts.