CDWP okays six uplift projects worth Rs187bn

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives (PDSI) & Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Ahsan Iqbal on Friday chaired a meeting of the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) that approved uplift projects worth Rs187 billion.

“Out of these, six projects worth Rs 19 billion have been approved by the CDWP forum, while it recommended six projects of Rs 168 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for its consideration,” a news release said.

Among others, the meeting was attended by Secretary Planning Awais Manzur Sumra, Additional Secretary Planning, members of the Planning Commission, as well as respective federal secretaries, and representatives from federal ministries and provincial governments.

During the meeting, Ahsan Iqbal emphasized the importance of cost rationalization, instructing the officials that the role of the CDWP forum was to optimize project expenditures and save resources.

The forum approved three projects namely “Establishment of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Medical College Mirpur AJ&K (Revised) worth Rs 5089.779 million; “Establishment of 200-bed Accident and Emergency Center at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad (Revised)” worth Rs 6,632.589 million and “Replacement & Up-gradation of HVAC Plant Room Equipment and Allied works at PIMS Islamabad (2nd Revision)” worth Rs 1,654.100 million.

It also okayed a project related to the Industries & Commerce sector namely “Invest Pakistan” worth Rs 1,388.84 million. A project related to Physical Planning & Housing sector namely “Karachi Water & Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP) Phase-I” worth Rs 25,471.164 million was recommended to ECNEC for consideration. The project will be funded through World Bank and Government of Sindh. The meeting approved another project of Physical Planning & Housing - “Greater Water Supply Scheme for Central Hunza from Attabad Lake (Revised)” worth Rs 2,075.667 million.

The CDWP referred a project “Inter-Regional Connectivity Between Baltistan Division & Diamer Astore Division (Construction/Metaling of Road from Gorikote Astore to Shagarthang Skardu) (Revised)” worth Rs12,302.147 million to ECNEC for further consideration.

The revised project envisages the construction of a 105-km long road starting from Kachura (Skardu District) and, after passing through Bobin, terminates at Astore Valley road at Gorikot. The road passes through Kachura, Soq Kachura, and Shagharthang villages, climbs up to Bobin Valley, and descends down to Gorikot.

During the meeting, the Transport Communication Division presented the project namely “ Construction of Ziarat More - Kachi - Harnai - Sanjavi - Road Project Package -I Ziarat Mor- Kachi - Harnai Road 109.882 Km, Package -I Harnai - Sanjavi - Road 55.83 Km (Revised)” worth Rs.24,423.900 million which was referred to ECNEC for further consideration after 3rd party validation.

The project envisages construction/widening/ rehabilitation of existing road from Ziarat Mor-Kach-Harnai (109.882-Kilometre) and from Harnai to Sanjavi (55.834-Kilometre) in the Harnai and Ziarat districts of Balochistan Province.

The scope of work includes construction / rehabilitation of existing & new bridges, box & pipe culverts, causeways, retaining & breast walls and embankment.

The minister stated that projects in Balochistan were a priority for the Federal Government, and maximum resources were being proposed for the initiatives in the province. The meeting referred another project of T&C sector namely “Construction of Lahore Bypass from Kalashah Kaku Exit to KLM to Mulyam Road Near Radio Station 18.5 Km (Revised)” worth Rs 34,446.585 million to ECNEC for further consideration.

Besides, it forwarded two projects related to Water Resources sector namely “Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project SFERP Irrigation Component (Revised)” worth Rs 59,911.990 million to ECNEC.

The project is proposed to be funded through World Bank & Government of Sindh. The project titled “Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project – SFERP (Irrigation Component)” was prepared for the rehabilitation of Irrigation & Drainage Networks damaged, during the flood of 2022. Rehabilitation of existing infrastructure will be undertaken along with the construction of flood detention dams/weirs for the urban flooding.

The scope of project comprises Infrastructure Rehabilitation, Emergent Rehabilitation Works, Emergent Works, Long Term Rehabilitation Works, Institutional Strengthening for Resilience and Technical Assistance.