The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) approved six development projects worth Rs151.33 billion, signalling a major push to bolster higher education, tourism, and rural infrastructure. Chaired by Secretary Planning Awais Manzur Sumra, the meeting greenlit four projects worth Rs11.20 billion and referred two larger initiatives totalling Rs140.13 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval.
The approved projects focus on advancing Pakistan’s higher education sector. These include infrastructure upgrades at the Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water, and Marine Sciences (LUAWMS) Phase-II (Rs1.85 billion), the establishment of a National Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (Rs2.77 billion), a National Centre for Manufacturing (Rs4.29 billion), and improved academic facilities at the University of Karachi (Rs2.29 billion). These initiatives aim to enhance research capabilities and academic excellence nationwide.
Two high-value projects were forwarded to ECNEC: the Rs27.3 billion *Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Tourism Development Project (KITE)*, funded by a World Bank loan, and the Rs112.8 billion *Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Accessibility Project (KP-RAP)*, financed jointly by the World Bank (93.81%) and the KP government (6.19%). The KITE project seeks to boost tourism through infrastructure development, skills training, and private-sector engagement, while KP-RAP aims to rehabilitate and climate-proof 1,200 km of rural roads and bridges across 23 districts, improving access to essential services for marginalized communities.
Federal and provincial officials underscored the transformative potential of these projects. “These initiatives are critical for driving economic growth, reducing poverty, and ensuring sustainable development,” stated a Planning Ministry spokesperson. With ECNEC’s anticipated approval, the projects are poised to strengthen Pakistan’s education infrastructure, unlock tourism revenue, and bridge rural-urban connectivity gaps, fostering inclusive progress.
