ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) of the Planning Commission approved on Thursday 42 projects of Rs107.2 billion, with a foreign aid component of Rs10 billion.

Twenty-seven projects of Rs49.3 billion were approved in the infrastructure sector, 13 projects in the social sector amounting to Rs57.6 billion and two projects of Rs0.3 billion for commerce and industry.

The CDWP meeting, presided over by deputy chairman of the commission Sardar Assef Ahmad Ali, approved a 132KV grid station to be set up in Bajaur agency at a cost of Rs453 million and the Dargai Pall small dam in South Waziristan which would cost Rs313.232 million.

The CDWP asked Wapda to carry out a feasibility study for the Pattan hydropower project. The project will generate 2800MW of electricity.

Bridges across the River Indus connecting Larkana with Khairpur and Kandhkot on the national highway N-55 with Ghotki and a bridge on Ravi on the Kamalia Harrapa road in Toba Tek Singh have been recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec). These projects will cost Rs17.4 billion.

The CDWP recommended to Ecnec the Rs4 billion Swat development package for rehabilitation and improvement of the socio-economic condition through multi-sectoral activities. The project will help resettle the internally displaced people and boost economic activities in the valley.

It recommended to Ecnec that the Population Welfare Programme be extended up to 2014 at a cost of Rs50 billion. A committee has been set up to prepare recommendations for devising a better delivery mechanism for the programme.

The CDWP considered three concept papers — Disaster Management Programme Sindh, Communication System for Coastal Management in Arabian Sea (JICA) and increasing participation and reducing dropout of girls at the middle school level in rural areas of Sindh.