The Central Development Working Party (CDWP), chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, has cleared 15 major development projects worth Rs518.972 billion, underscoring the government’s renewed push for infrastructure, engineering, and housing development across the country. Out of these, six projects worth Rs22.487 billion were approved at the CDWP level, while nine projects costing Rs496.485 billion were recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval.
Among the key projects, the Flood Response Emergency Housing Project (Phase III) in Sindh, valued at Rs42.09 billion, was referred to ECNEC. Financed through the European Investment Bank (EIB), the initiative will rebuild over 116,000 multi-hazard resilient homes for flood victims, integrating climate-resilient designs and inclusive facilities for vulnerable groups.
The CDWP also approved the construction of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly Complex at a revised cost of Rs6.917 billion, a significant architectural and civic infrastructure undertaking.
In the water and sanitation sector, the Karachi Water & Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP) Phase-II was recommended to ECNEC with a revised cost of Rs185.895 billion. Supported by the World Bank, AIIB, and EIB, the project aims to modernize Karachi’s water supply and sewerage systems through engineering upgrades, institutional reforms, and capacity building.
For connectivity in northern areas, the forum referred to ECNEC the Construction of Road from Pissan to Hoper Nagar (40 km), Shahrah-e-Nagar, at a revised cost of Rs13.764 billion, a project set to enhance accessibility and mobility in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Minister Ahsan Iqbal stressed the importance of timely implementation of engineering and infrastructure projects, noting that such initiatives are crucial for driving sustainable development and resilience across Pakistan.
