The Central Development Working Party (CDWP), chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal, has approved 18 key development projects spanning agriculture, energy, health, education, water, transport, and governance, marking another milestone in Pakistan’s Vision 2025 and Uraan Pakistan’s 5Es Framework.
In the meeting held at the Planning Commission, 12 projects worth Rs35.4 billion were approved, while six projects totaling Rs280.2 billion were referred to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval.
Major initiatives include the Punjab Resilient and Inclusive Agriculture Transformation Project (PRIAT) worth Rs68.67 billion, Punjab Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Agriculture Mechanization Project (Rs36.12 billion), and National Animal Disease Surveillance and Control Program (Rs7.35 billion).
In the environment sector, a landmark Rs52.19 billion wastewater treatment plant at Babu Sabu, Lahore, financed by AFD, was approved to treat 88 MGD of wastewater using biogas and solar energy, protecting the Ravi ecosystem.
Three hydropower projects in AJK—Phullawai, Khurshidabad, and Naushera—were cleared to boost renewable energy generation. The ML-1 railway upgrade and Havelian Dry Port design, worth Rs16.26 billion, were referred to ECNEC, with Ahsan Iqbal terming ML-1 “Pakistan’s leap into the 21st century.”
Other notable projects include BRT Quetta, Kachhi Canal Restoration, and Sindh Social Protection Delivery System.
