ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Thursday approved 18 projects with a total outlay of Rs23 billion, apart from referring three projects worth Rs52bn to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council and giving concept clearance to two projects to the tune of Rs10bn.

Twenty-five projects in sectors of education, governance, energy, the Higher Education Commission, physical planning and housing, transport and communication, manpower and the water sector were considered.

For all the approved projects, including position papers and concept clearance, the foreign exchange component (FEC) is about Rs11bn, whereas Rs5.22bn was allocated for the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2015-16.

Five projects of the education sector were given approval: University of Dir costing Rs985.34 with a PSDP allocation of Rs50 million; establishment and development of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur sub-campus at Rahim Yar Khan worth Rs726m with foreign exchange component of Rs157.35m and PSDP allocation of Rs50m; post-doctoral fellowship programme of the HEC to cost Rs2,834.68m with FEC share of Rs2,652m and PSDP allocation of Rs60m; construction of boundary wall of the University of Agriculture Peshawar worth Rs239.806m (fully funded by the federal government); and the establishment of University of Turbat at a cost of Rs2,820.622m with a PSDP allocation of Rs413m and FEC of Rs284.88m.

Another approved project of the education sector was “improving human development indicators in Pakistan with focus of the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) relating to education six EFA goals”, which will cost Rs2,365.83m and an amount of Rs500m has been allocated in the PSDP 2015-16.

The Prime Minister’s Youth Skill Development Programme (Phase-III) 2015-17 was also approved, costing Rs2,630m. An approved project in the governance sector was the creation of Centre of excellence for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which will cost Rs996.636m.

A project, ‘feasibility study for enhancing the transmission capacity of NTDC’s 500KV transmission system by applying series compensation’ of the energy sector, will be completed at a cost of Rs133.18m with foreign exchange component of Rs106.83m.

Six projects in the transport and communication sector were approved, including: flyover at the Nag Shah Chowk Multan at a cost Rs1.47bn with PSDP allocation of Rs150m; construction of flyover on Shaheen Chowk N-5 Gujrat worth Rs1,264.2m with PSDP allocation of Rs800m; comprehensive feasibility study of up-gradation of the existing main line-II (ML-II) from Kotri to Attock city (1,254 kilometres) to cost Rs300m with an equal PSDP allocation; Airport Security Force (ASF) accommodation at the New Islamabad Airport worth Rs2,325.516m with the PSDP allocation of Rs400m; and construction of metalled road in Nankana Sahib costing Rs998.63 having the PSDP allocation of Rs100m.

Three projects of the physical planning and housing included up-gradation and strengthening of the Cabinet Division; six Aviation Squadron for relief operations and enhancement of security worth Rs544.88m with a PSDP allocation of Rs167.13m and the FEC of Rs163.46m; construction of auditorium for 500 persons at the Civil Service Academy Walton Lahore costing Rs102.58m with a PSDP allocation of Rs25.32m; and construction of 15 residences for the Superintendents of Police in Sector H-11 Islamabad with a total cost of Rs154m and PSDP allocation of Rs21m.

Two approved projects in the water sectors were: construction of Zamir Gul Dam in district Kohat at a cost of Rs987.77m with an allocation of Rs500m in the PSDP 2015-16; and agriculture development water management project in Qila Abdullah and Qila Saifullah district costing Rs857.597m.

Three projects, referred to Ecnec for approval, were: construction of Mangi Dam Quetta worth Rs9.85bn with an allocation of Rs500m in the PSDP 2015-16, Kurram Tangi Dam (stage-I construction of Kaitu Weir) to cost Rs22.74 with a foreign aid of Rs4.47bn and PSDP allocation of Rs600m, and construction of additional carriage way of Indus Highway (N-55) Sehwan-Ratodero section worth Rs19.45bn with a PSDP allocation of Rs850m.

One position paper of the transport and communication sector was the construction of four-lane underpass at Wah gate No.1 at Taxila will cost Rs993.55m with a PSDP block allocation of Rs250m.

The concept clearance was accorded to two proposals for the construction of 48-megwatt Shounter HPP district Neelum AJK worth Rs8,972.68m and establishment of the Cadet College Chilas Diamer costing Rs1,657.791m with an FEC share of Rs994.495m.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2016