CDWP approves Rs99.4 billion worth of development projects

ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Monday approved 15 development projects with an estimated cost of Rs99.4 billion.

The projects include greater Karachi sewerage plan of Rs36.117 billion sponsored by Sindh government.  Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal chaired the meeting, which also approved institutional strengthening and efficiency enhancement of Planning Commission with a cost of Rs350 million. The project would enhance the capacity and performance of regular staff of the commission through incentive schemes and by accommodating increased number of workforce hired under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects and vision 2025.  

In addition, CDWP approved monitoring of public sector development programme-financed project worth Rs700 million. The project aims to improve and expand the existing monitoring system and to undertake external monitoring of development projects to ensure that investments made in the public sector are put to effective use as planned.

Further, the party approved procurement/manufacturing of 830 high capacity bogie freight wagons and 250 passenger coaches worth Rs31.1 billion. These passenger coaches fitted with modern bogies will be able to run at 160-kilometre an hour. 

Minister Iqbal said bogies should be according to the platform and track.  CDWP also approved construction of staff quarters for Pakistan Railways with a cost of Rs788 million. 

It also recommended the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) to consider approval of five mega projects in energy, transport, communication and physical planning and housing.  

In energy sector, CDWP recommended a project worth Rs8.4 billion to ECNEC. The project envisages a new 200 kilo volts single circuit twin bundle rail conductor transmission line to be constructed from Guddu to Sibbi via Shikarpur and Uch power plants. It will serve as a substitute to the existing transmission line, which has been deteriorated due to completion of its useful life. 

CDWP approved two projects in the health sector costing Rs4.7 billion to build Gilgit Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Oncology and Radiotherapy worth of Rs2.3 billion and Gujranwala Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy worth Rs2.39 billion. The projects will result in the establishment of a cancer facility in Gilgit, Gujranwala and surrounding areas. 

Planning minister said patients should be facilitated without facing any inconvenience in the treatment process.  CDWP also approved two projects of physical planning and housing sector, including greater Karachi sewerage Plan worth Rs36.117 and water distribution network for Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonments worth Rs880.50 million.

The minister asked the officials to complete the project by December.  He further directed the provincial administration to devise an institutional mechanism comprising of local government, stakeholders and citizens to efficiently utilise Rs36 billion earmarked for greater Karachi sewerage plan and timely complete the project. 

He said the project is very important to take care of environment, reduce pollution and take care of fishing department.  CDWP also approved four projects worth Rs43.8 billion under the transport and communication sector, which includes rehabilitation/up-gradation and widening of Quetta-Dadher section of N-65 against a cost of Rs7.3 billion. 

The project will help in increasing inter-provincial access between Sindh and linking some major cities with the rest of the country. It will play a key role in economic development of the country. 

CDWP also approved construction, rehabilitation, improvement and widening of Kalash Valley road of 47.93 kilometre with a cost of Rs4.7 billion. The project has been taken up as per an announcement of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his visit to Chitral to promote tourism.

CDWP also approved three projects of Rs1.65 billion related to governance. It approved sustainable development goals (SDGs) unit in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with a cost of Rs600 million. The project will translate the SDGs framework into concrete plans and interventions at provincial and district levels by establishing short- and medium-term goals rather than only having end point targets.

CDWP deferred the national pesticide residues monitoring system project worth Rs739 million.  It also approved science talent farming scheme for undergraduate programme in education sector worth Rs2.9 billion. The project aims to groom and build capacity of young students in natural science and mathematics.