ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Thursday approved 31 development projects worth Rs360 billion, including 12 mega projects costing Rs342bn, which have been referred to the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) for its final approval.

The approved projects are in sectors like energy, water resources, transport and communications, physical planning and housing, environment and health, science and technology, information technology and horticulture. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Sartaj Aziz.

In energy sector, CDWP approved three projects worth Rs3.714bn. In addition, three energy projects worth Rs41.387bn were referred to Ecnec for approval. The projects approved in energy sector are: construction of 132kV grid station at Splinji and Allied 132kV SDT 65km Darwaza – Splinji Transmission Line, 220 kV Jamrud Sub-station along with associated 220kV transmission line and establishment of new 132kV grid station Puran, Tehsil Mastung.

CDWP considered two projects of water resources with the total proposed cost of Rs16bn; both of these projects were referred to Ecnec. The approved water resources project are: construction of 200 dams and check dams in Qilla Abdullah, Gulistan and Dobandai tehsils, district Qilla Abdullah, and construction of Garuk storage dam in district Kharan. Both of these projects were forwarded to Ecnec for further evaluation.

CDWP also recommended two projects of transport and communications with the total proposed cost of Rs193bn. Both of these projects were referred to Ecnec for further approval.

The projects approved in transport and communications sectors are: design, tendering assistance and construction of Malakand tunnel project worth Rs177.9bn, and procurement and construction of six maritime patrol vessels for Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) at a cost of Rs15.94bn.

A total of nine physical planning and housing projects were proposed in CDWP meeting, out of which seven were approved and one was referred to Ecnec. The total proposed cost of these projects is Rs28bn.

The CDWP also considered four science and technology projects out of which three were approved. The cost of these projects is Rs2.35bn. The projects approved are the first phase of development of Sindh Madrasatul Islam Campus at Education City, Malir; the upgradation of silicon strip tracker and Muon System for the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment; research and development and upgradation and strengthening of research and development laboratory of National Centre for Physics.

In heath sector, one project with total cost of Rs33bn was referred to Ecnec for further approval. CDWP approved the second phase of Prime Minister’s National Health Programme.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2017