CDWP okays three projects worth Rs126bn

ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has greenlighted three projects worth Rs126 billion, forwarding them for final approval to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), following the postponement of much-anticipated Mainline (ML-1) construction project phase-1, now estimated at $3.3 billion.

Although, the reasons for the deferral of ML-1 project remain undisclosed, sources say it was delayed without official confirmation.

The Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is anticipated to convene later this month, coinciding with a potential visit by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to China in the second week of June 2024.

Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal has been engaged in discussions in China to finalise agreements for the second phase of CPEC.

Chaired by Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, the CDWP meeting on Wednesday recommended two transport and communication sector projects for ECNEC's consideration.

The first project, Improvement, Upgradation, and Widening of Jaglot-Skardu Road, 164 km (2nd revised), valued at Rs33,270.600 million, aims to enhance and widen the existing Jaglot-Skardu Road to accommodate increased traffic and improve connectivity.

The second project, "Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of N-5 from Moro to Ranipur km 318–404 (NBC/SBC) and 32 damaged bridges under the ADB Flood Emergency Loan (Revised)," worth Rs57,245.400 million, focuses on rehabilitating and reconstructing a section of the N-5 highway and damaged bridges to mitigate flood-related risks.

Additionally, a health-related project titled "Prime Minister’s Programme for Elimination of Hepatitis C Infection," valued at Rs35,411.950 million, was presented.

The project aims to eliminate Hepatitis C from Pakistan by 2030 through comprehensive screening programmes, with funding from the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) and the Government of Pakistan.

When contacted over the delayed ML-1 project, the Planning Ministry spokesman said that too many projects and concept papers were tabled in the meeting.

"This left little room for detailed review of many projects. It’s just about the time, not delayed otherwise."