ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Monday cleared a total of 34 development projects involving an estimated cost of Rs365.5 billion.

The meeting presided over by Planning Commission’s Deputy Chairman Sartaj Aziz approved 29 projects worth Rs32.31bn while the remaining five projects of Rs333.179bn were referred to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for formal approval.

Under the financial rules, the CDWP can itself approve schemes costing no more than Rs3bn while only examines technical and financial details of larger projects involving more than Rs3bn and recommends their approval by the Ecnec.

Among the major development projects, the CDWP also recommended to the Ecnec to approve Rs124bn worth of a major chunk of the main Diamer Bhasha Dam whose total cost was estimated at Rs650bn. It also cleared another Rs197bn for Mohmad Dam Hydropower project while Rs5bn were cleared for acquisition of land for railway corridor at Gawadar port, Rs5bn for establishment of regional grid in Gilgit-Baltistan, Rs7bn to build National Institute of Applied Technologies.

In energy sector, the meeting approved implementation of integrated solutions to improve productivity and control in National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) by Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system of Rs2.919bn.

In transport and communications, CDWP approved two projects while referring to Ecnec. The CDWP approved projects include Airport Security Force Accommodation at New Islamabad Airport at a cost of Rs2.7bn and Widening of Spera Ragha Road from Khanozai Cross to Loralai and Killa Saifullah at a cost of Rs2.87bn.

In the water section, a total of three projects were presented out of which two were approved by CDWP and one (Diamer Basha Dam) was referred to Ecnec. The water sector projects approved by the CDWP included construction of J-Head Spur at Muzaffargarh worth Rs513.4 million, and Monitoring the Seawater intrusion along Sindh and Balochistan at Rs650.056m.

In physical planning and housing, six projects and two position papers were presented out of which four were approved by CDWP and two were deferred. Aprroved projects were construction of 5 (for 100 men each) police barracks in Islamabad at Rs375m, building of admin block quarters, guard, barracks and horse stable and parade ground in Diplomatic Enclave Islamabad at Rs407m and land acquisition and site development for Pakistan Institute of Development Economics’ new campus at Rs1.98bn.

The meeting also approved the construction of judicial and admin complex in Islamabad at Rs708m.

In science and technology area, 11 projects were presented of which nine were approved at a total cost of Rs12.177bn. The approved projects include uplifting of academic and infrastructure facilities at Hazara University, establishment of engineering faculty at Karakorum International University, Pak-Sri Lanka Higher Education Programme, International Law Graduate Scholarship for Balochistan, Prime Minister’s electric wheelchair scheme for university students and establishment of technical training centre for precision mechanics and instrument technology.

In education sector, two projects were presented with both approved at a cost of Rs3.488bn. The approved ones included the provision of quality education to the students of Balochistan and FATA and rge construction of primary section at GDA School, Gwadar.

In health, three projects were presented with two valuing at Rs820.890m were approved. The projects included upgradation of health facilities at Children and Gynecology Hospital, Rawalpindi by making all the departments functional and the purchase of electromedical equipment for newly constructed 200 bed hospital for Pak Rangers Punjab.

In mass media sector, three projects worth Rs639.135m were approved, including construction of boxing gymnasium in Karachi, construction of ymnasium in Quetta and modernisation of camera and production equipment of PTV.

In information technology, two projects valuing at Rs1,418.006 million were presented and approved compising “National Response Centre for Cyber Crime (Phase 3) and establishment of land revenue records management information system in rural area of Islamabad.

In industries and commerce section, four projects worth Rs5.786bn were approved by the CDWP. The projects were Expo Centre Islamabad, Expo Centre Quetta and CPEC Industrial Cooperation Development Project.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2018