Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved as many as 18 development projects at an estimated cost of Rs154 billion for various sectors including energy, transmission lines, higher education and information technology.
The CDWP recommended seven out of 18 projects at the cost Rs134 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval. In addition, the CDWP also approved two position papers.
The CDWP met with Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal in the chair at P-Block Secretariat of the ministry. Senior officers of the provincial governments and ministries concerned attended the meeting.
About the energy sector, the CDWP approved and referred two projects including evacuation of power from 2x1100MW K-2/K-3 coastal power plants near Karachi at cost of Rs5.6 billion with foreign exchange component (FEC) Rs2.6 billion and evacuation of power from 2x 660MW Thar Coal based SSRL/SECL power plant at Thar at cost of Rs23 billion with FEC Rs12 billion to Ecnec. It also approved evacuation of power from 350MW Siddiqsons energy coal fired power plant near Port Qasim worth Rs2.9 billion with FEC Rs1.4 billion. These three projects aim at transmitting power from the power plants and transferring it to the national grid.
The CDWP meeting also approved rehabilitation of damaged 66KV grid station at Ghiljo, Orakzai Agency, at the cost of Rs145 million and construction of 132KV SDT transmission line for making interconnecting arrangement between 132KV grid station Kharan and Mall grid (82-km) at the cost of Rs650 million. The CDWP referred the 500KV Chakwal substation at the cost of Rs7 billion with FEC Rs3.8 billion to the Ecnec.
The CDWP also gave clearance and referred revised Koto Hydropower Project located in Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to the Ecnec worth Rs14 billion with FEC Rs7 billion.
About transport and communication sector, the CDWP approved revised project of improvement and construction of Jalkhad-Chilas Road project at an estimated cost of Rs7.8 billion; feasibility studies of up-gradation of existing railway line from Rohri to Koti-Taftan via Quetta including the realignment of Sibi-Spezand section (1022-km) and feasibility study of rail link from Quetta to Kotla Jam (538-km) (updating of existing feasibility study) worth Rs292 million.
The CDWP meeting also approved up-gradation of VHF communication system for operational staff worth Rs737 million. In addition it approved up-gradation of road from RCC Konodas Bridge to Naltar Airbase Camp via Nomal (47-kilometer) of worth Rs2.7 billion.
The CDWP approved Saaf Suthro Sindh (SSS) Programme for scaling up of rural sanitation at cost of Rs1.5 billion in principle.
While giving his observations, Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal observed that the project needed restructuring to ensure solid outcomes and deliverables.
The CDWP approved Punjab Irrigated Agriculture Productivity Improvement worth Rs80 billion with the FEC Rs48 billion.
About higher education sector, the CDWP approved provision of academic and research facilities at Air University, Islamabad, at the cost of Rs1.6 billion with FEC Rs269 million. However, the minister urged to rationalise the scope of the project.
In information technology sector, the CDWP meeting approved the provision of seamless GSM coverage along KKH in support of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and up-gradation of the GSM network for Gilgit-Baltistan Phase-II worth Rs3.3 billion.
The CDWP approved institutional strengthening and efficiency enhancement of Planning Commission worth Rs200 million. The CDWP also gave clearance to two projects in principle which include revival of wildlife resources in Pakistan, worth Rs1.1 billion, and Zoological Survey of Pakistan, worth Rs99 million. The chair observed to review and rationalise the cost of the projects.
In addition, the CDWP also approved two position papers, which include construction of 100 dams in tehsil Dubandal Gulistan, Killa Abdullah, and Chaman area of Killa Abdullah, worth Rs1.5 billion and Pehur High Level Canal Extension project, district Swabi, worth Rs10 billion.
