ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) at its meeting on Thursday approved 90 projects and sanctioned Rs305 billion, including a foreign aid component of Rs76.5 billion, for the purpose.

Of the 90 projects, 58 projects in infrastructure sector costing Rs275. billion and 32 projects in social sector costing Rs29.7 billion were approved by the CDWP.

The Deputy Chairman Planning of the Commission, Sardar Aseff Ahmad Ali, presided over the meeting.

The meeting was attended by sponsoring agencies and representative of provincial governments.

Since the energy sector is a top priority of the government, most of the projects the CDWP approved related to the power sector.

They include Nuclear Power Waste Project at Chashma, Long-Term Operation of Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (LTOK), establishment of HDIP mega CNG stations, and National Compact Florescent Lamp Projects.

These projects will help reduce acute shortage of power in the country by providing additional electricity to the national grid and by saving energy.

The CDWP also approved projects relating to preservation and augmentation of water resources. These dual purpose projects will help in irrigation and generate energy.

The CDWP is authorised to approve projects costing up to one billion rupees. At Thursday’s meeting, the CDWP recommended 27 projects to Ecnec for approval each costing over Rs1 billion.

The mega projects for Multan included a bridge over the Chenab river from Sendeelinwali in Toba Tek Singh to Mian Channu in Khanewal district, costing Rs3.5 billion; Phase-II of Northern Bypass, Multan, costing Rs 2.7 billion.

The dualisation of Multan-Uch road project was deferred for want of additional information.

The CDWP also approved capacity-enhancing project of the Pakistan Post which included computerisation, automation and renovation of its offices across the country to make the department more efficient and equipped with modern technology.

In order to make the federal capital more secure and safe, the meeting approved Rs10 billion Safe City project for Islamabad which will ensure adequate security framework by incorporating strategies preventing unauthorised access of vehicles and individuals from entering the capital.

The project will help strengthen ability of law-enforcement agencies to monitor the territory and prevent unfortunate incidents and keep record of movement of all unauthorised vehicles and individuals.

Pursuing the policy of women empowerment of the present government, the CDWP approved projects for enhancement of social status of rural women in Sindh and the AJK.

Two projects for restoration and preservation of cultural heritage of Pakistan, including restoration and preservation of Rohtas Fort in Jhehlum costing Rs498 million and Preservation and Restoration of Shahdara Complex of Monuments costing Rs461 million were also approved.