ISLAMABAD, Oct 17: A special meeting of the Central Development Working Party will be held here on Thursday to approve of some development projects, including the Mirani Dam involving Rs34 billion.

Planning commission deputy chairman Dr Shahid Amjad Chaudhry is expected to preside over the meeting.

Official sources said that there were about 15 projects belonging to all the provinces and Azad Kashmir. Some of the projects are: Mangla watershed management project, reorganization of special development unit in Peshawar, Bajaur areas development project phase-1, retrieval of sewage and drainage system in Lahore, promotion of primary education for girls in the NWFP, national policy and action plan project to combat child labour, spillway project, Rasul hydel power station, and PTV inter-active cable TV network project.

The site for Mirani dam is located about 45 kilometres west of Turbat across the Dasht River. The objective of the project is to increase crop production, mitigate floods, generate hydel power, etc.

The project was considered by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council at its meeting held in September, 1994.