CDWP passes 11 projects worth Rs46.2 billion

ISLAMABAD: Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Tuesday cleared eleven projects costing Rs46.2 billion and referred two worth Rs42.04 billion to Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) for additional deliberation.

A statement said these approvals came to pass in a CDWP meeting, presided over by Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission.

Senior officials from Planning Commission and Federal Ministries/Divisions and representatives from provincial governments participated in the meeting through video link.

Projects related to food and agriculture, energy, health and water resources were mulled in the meeting.

The meeting approved four agriculture and food projects. The first one was “Promotion of Olive Cultivation on Commercial Scale in Pakistan (phase-II) National program on Olive Deepening” worth Rs6,410.229 million. The phase-II envisages olive cultivation on an area of 75,000 acres and grafting of five million wild olive plants throughout the country on public and private land/forests.

Second approved project was “Fostering Economic Growth through promotion of High Value Crops in Gilgit Baltistan” worth Rs1,500 million. The project focuses on the promotion of agribusiness in Gilgit Baltistan by introducing improved germ plasm of potential fruit species, by introduction of floriculture as source of income to the farmers of the area with specific focus on women farmers.

The third project was “Enhancement of Livestock production in Gilgit-Baltistan” worth Rs1,315.079 million. This project aims at improving cattle breeds by breeding large animas with quality semen through establishment of 137 artificial insemination centers by engaging literate eligible youth through their capacity building and required inputs and tools kits.

The fourth project was “Transforming Agriculture through Innovative Research in Gilgit Baltistan” worth Rs1,050 million.

The CDWP meeting also gave go-ahead to four energy-related projects. The first was “Construction of new 132KV Grid Station & Transmission Lines” worth Rs9,334 million. The project will cover districts Sukur, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Larkana, Ghotki, Kamber, Kandhkot, Dadu, Naushero Feroze, Khairpur, Nawabshah and Jamshoro.

Second project was “Rehabilitation of SEPCO Distribution System under Federal PDP” worth Rs3,000 million and “STG Plan 2021-22 Grant PSDP” worth Rs7,009.08 million.

The execution agency is HESCO and the project envisages construction of new grid station and transmission system along with rehabilitation in order to strengthen existing network of Power Division/HESCO.

Another project titled “Attabad Lake Hydropower Project (54 MW)” worth Rs25,347.526 million was referred to ECNEC for further approval. The project envisages construction of 54 MW hydropower project located on the right bank of Hunza River, towards downstream end of Attabad Lake developed as a result of massive landslide about 15 kilometers upstream of Gilgit.

Four health-related projects were also passed by the CDWP. These projects include “Establishment of Medical & Nursing College at Gilgit” worth Rs4,923.7478 million, “Construction of PHQ Hospital Gilgit Based on Sustainable Master Plan” worth Rs2,962.730 million, “Strengthening existing capacity of NIH for effective response against COVID-19 Pandemic in Pakistan” worth Rs492.326 million, and “Strengthening and Up-gradation of the Nursing and Midwifery sub sector in Pakistan” worth Rs8,194.265.

The CDWP referred a project titled “Remodeling of Warsak Canal System in Peshawar & Nowshera District” worth Rs16,695.81 million to ECNEC for further approval.