In a pivotal move to accelerate national development, the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) approved three critical projects worth Rs10.053 billion and advanced four high-impact initiatives totaling Rs 91 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval. Chaired by Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, the meeting at the P-Block Secretariat underscored the government’s focus on infrastructure modernization, education, and security enhancements.
The CDWP greenlit the Gwadar Safe City Project (Revised), a Rs4.97 billion initiative to bolster security in the strategic port city through a network of CCTV cameras and advanced surveillance systems. Funded equally by federal and provincial governments, the project aims to curb theft, vandalism, and threats to foreign nationals while safeguarding critical installations.
In the education sector, two major approvals include a Rs3.39 billion upgrade for Rawalpindi’s National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) and a Rs1.7 billion satellite campus of Sukkur IBA University in Mirpurkhas. These projects aim to expand access to quality higher education and healthcare training.
Four high-cost projects were escalated to ECNEC, led by a Rs49.27 billion overhaul of Lahore’s sewerage system, funded by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The initiative will replace decades-old pipelines with a state-of-the-art trunk system using micro-tunneling technology to separate stormwater and sewage, addressing chronic flooding and pollution in central Lahore.
Transport infrastructure also dominated discussions. A Rs12.97 billion plan to dualize the Sialkot-Eminabad Road, linking the industrial hub to the National Highway (N-5), promises to slash logistics costs and boost trade. Similarly, a Rs16.22 billion upgrade of the 79.89 km Jhaljao–Bela Road in Balochistan aims to transform connectivity in Awaran District, improving access to remote communities and the historic Sheeran–Farhad Shrine.
Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal emphasized the projects’ alignment with national priorities: “These initiatives are catalysts for economic growth, regional equity, and public safety. From Gwadar’s security to Lahore’s infrastructure and Balochistan’s connectivity, we’re investing in Pakistan’s future.”
The meeting saw participation from provincial planning chiefs, federal secretaries, and development experts, highlighting cross-government collaboration. With foreign funding and cutting-edge technology playing key roles, the projects signal a shift toward sustainable, inclusive development.
