CDWP approves Rs49.3bn development projects

ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) Friday approved development projects worth Rs49.310 billion while recommending additional projects worth Rs19.96 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for final approval.

With Ecnec’s endorsement, the total cost of these projects will reach Rs69.275 billion.

The meeting, chaired by Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives (PDSI) and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Ahsan Iqbal, reviewed key initiatives across multiple sectors, including education, health, higher education, industries, information technology, manpower, mass media, physical planning and housing, power, and special areas.

In the education sector, the CDWP approved two projects, establishment of Daanish Schools in Gilgit Baltistan (Astore) at a cost of Rs2.96 billion and in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) at Rs3.05 billion. The AJK school, designed to accommodate 800 students, would introduce modern educational interventions such as incubation centres, skill development programmes, IT education, and a school meal initiative.

In the fuel sector, the forum approved the project “Supply of Gas to Villages within 5 km of Gas-Producing Fields in Sindh and Jhal Magsi Town, Balochistan” as part of the fourth-year phase of an eight-year plan. The Rs1.566 billion project involves laying 192.964 km of gas pipelines to connect 2,934 households in 81 villages.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) presented two key projects that received CDWP’s approval. The first, the upgradation of Bannu University of Science and Technology (Lakki Marwat Campus) into a fully-fledged university, would be implemented at a cost of Rs2.929 billion. This initiative aims to provide education to over 2,000 students, generate employment for 80 faculty members and 98 management staff, and enhance academic quality for 12-15 affiliated colleges. Additionally, it will introduce research and development (R&D) programmes focused on local resources, supported by a team of 28 qualified faculty members.

The second HEC-approved project is establishment of a National Centre for Brand Development, valued at Rs1.85 billion. This centre aims to strengthen Pakistan’s brand identity by promoting research and innovation in marketing, design, and industrial development. It will provide specialised training programmes to enhance the global competitiveness of Pakistani products and services.

The Pakistan Optical Remote Sensing Satellite project, sponsored by Suparco and recommended by the CDWP forum to Ecnec, aims to enhance the Pakistan Image Interpretability Rating Scale (IIRS). The total cost of the project is Rs19.965 billion. This initiative will play a crucial role in socioeconomic development and national security, with applications in agriculture, precision crop surveys, urban planning, disaster monitoring, water resource management, and GIS data management. Additionally, the project will strengthen operational capacity for controlling multiple LEO Remote Sensing (RS) satellites, improving satellite data reception, archiving, and dissemination.

In the Manpower and Employment Sector, the CDWP approved the Social Sector Accelerator (SSA) for Health, Nutrition, Education, Youth & Gender - National Priority Initiatives under the Prime Minister’s Youth Empowerment Programme. This flagship initiative, titled ‘Youth Ki Uraan’, has been allocated Rs7.489 billion to empower young people through targeted interventions in health, education and skill development.

Under the Mass Media sector, the CDWP approved three key projects. The first, the National Information and Media Archival Repository, would be established at a cost of Rs2.998 billion to preserve and document critical media content. The second project, Rehabilitation of Medium Wave Services from Khairpur, has been allocated Rs902.95 million to enhance radio broadcasting infrastructure. The third initiative, Central Monitoring Unit, has been revised to a total cost of Rs1.396 billion, aiming to improve media monitoring and regulatory oversight.

In the Physical Planning and Housing sector, the CDWP approved the development of Block-A of Phase 1 (500 acres) of the Karachi Industrial Park, which will be established on approximately 6,400 acres of Pakistan Steel Mills land in Karachi. With a total cost of Rs7.4 billion, the project is expected to boost industrial development, attract investment, and create employment opportunities.

The forum also approved the Green Energy projects, financed by KFW Bank Germany and presented by the Government of Punjab, with a total cost of Rs5.06 billion. This initiative includes the installation of 21.119 MW solar PV systems across 24 tertiary hospitals and six Daanish schools in various districts. The project is expected to generate 28 GWh of clean energy annually, resulting in estimated energy cost savings of Rs1.68 billion per year. Additionally, it will reduce CO emissions by up to 21,106 metric tons annually, significantly decreasing reliance on grid electricity while ensuring sustainable and uninterrupted energy supply for hospitals and schools.

Under the Special Areas (AJ&K and GB) sector, the CDWP approved the strengthening of the Counter Terrorism Department in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, with a total cost of Rs2.679 billion. This project aims to enhance security measures, improve law enforcement capabilities, and strengthen counter-terrorism efforts in the region.

The GB government’s hydropower project at Mehdiabad Phase III, Kharmang, was also approved. With a cost of Rs1.497 billion, the project would generate 3.07 MW of electricity, producing an annual energy output of 21.27 GWh. The project is also expected to enhance energy affordability, with an estimated annual energy delivery cost of Rs152 million, ensuring a more stable and reliable power supply for residents.

Additionally, the CDWP has approved the China Pakistan Economic Corridor Support Project (CPECSP) - Phase II, with a total cost of Rs2.459 billion. The project is designed to strengthen institutional support for CPEC-related initiatives, facilitating smooth coordination and implementation of infrastructure and development projects under the corridor.