ISLAMABAD, Oct 19: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Thursday approved 20 development projects of about Rs50 billion, including Rs32 billion National Highway project of the National Highway Authority (NHA).

The finance minister will shortly preside over a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) to finally approve the projects. However, the projects with costs less than Rs200 million would not go to Ecnec for approval.

The CDWP meeting was presided over by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr Shahid Amjad Chaudhry and participated by Punjab Planning and Development Board chairman and the additional chief secretaries of Sindh, NWFP, Balochistan and Azad Kashmir.

Official sources said 15 development projects were approved, including National Highway, Mirani dam, Mangla watershed management project, reorganisation of special development unit (SDU) in Peshawar, Bajaur Areas Development Project Phase-1, retrieval of sewage and drainage system in Lahore, promotion of girls primary education in NWFP, national policy and action plan to combat child labour, spill way project, Rasul Hydel Power Station and PTV interactive cable TV network project.

One of the major projects, Mirani dam, is located about 30 miles west of Turbat across the Dasht River.

The physical works include construction of 3,350 feet long and 127 feet high earth-fill dam with a gross storage capacity of 0.302MAF with annual release of 0.114MAF. Two generators of 250 KW capacity will be installed. The average annual energy generation will be 3.1GWh.

Wapda advertised the project on March 18, 1995, and papers of 35 firms from all over the world were received. However, the bidding process got halted when the cabinet decided to replace Mirani dam with Hingol dam on Oct 10, 1996.

The president has accorded approval, in principle, for undertaking feasibility studies and detailed engineering design of the project.