ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Thursday cleared 15 development projects at an estimated cost of Rs29.3 billion.

The meeting presided over by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal was attended by representatives concerned of the federal and provincial governments.

The meeting technically cleared three development projects worth Rs16.7bn and recommended them to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for approval because of their costs beyond CDWP’s financial powers.

Under the rules, the CDWP can approve a development project of up to Rs3bn at its own and refer larger projects to Ecnec while clearing technicalities. In addition, the CDWP also approved four position papers of various sectors with a total cost of Rs8.1bn.

The CDWP cleared Green Pakistan Programme to revive forestry resources at a cost of Rs3.7bn. It was also decided to take on board higher education commission and other educational institutions for appropriate implementation of the project for countrywide tree plantation. Simultaneously, the climate change division was directed to coordinate with agricultural universities of each province and engage them in the plantation process.

The meeting approved two projects of Higher Education Commission (HEC) of worth Rs2.2bn. These included upgradation of universities of backward areas with the cost Rs1.3bn including a foreign exchange component of Rs2.323bn and the development of new campus of government college university Faisalabad Phase 2 of worth Rs920m with FEC of Rs94m.

The CDWP approved reconstruction/rehabilitation of fully damaged schools in Bara Khyber Agency at cost of Rs1.6bn under Chinese assistance.

In energy sector, it approved capacity enhancement of Chitral Hydel Power station from one megawatts to 5MW of at a cost of Rs2.267bn with FEC Rs574m. It also approved and advanced metering infrastructure project and billing system for state owned distribution utilities in Pakistan of worth Rs2bn with FEC Rs1.1bn.

In water resource sector, the meeting approved construction of 20 small dams in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at a cost of Rs452m. This project is targeted to irrigate 1,500 acres and also supply drinking water to 15,000 inhabitants.

The meeting also approved two position papers including construction of small dams in district Mansehra worth Rs3.7bn and construction of Ramma and Kasna dams in Tehsil Fateh Jang district Attock worth Rs3.8bn.

In transport and communication sector, the CDWP cleared land acquisition for Faisalabad-Abdul Hakeem Motorway M-4 (138-km) project at a cost Rs4.3bn and dualisation and improvement of Sohawa-Chakwal Road worth Rs8.8bn to Ecnec for approval.

The meeting also approved rehabilitation and procurement of re-manufactured 300 traction motors of Rs1.8bn for Pakistan Railways

In physical planning and housing sector, the meeting approved construction and upgradation of mosque at Pakistan Secretariat Islamabad at the cost of Rs448m. This project aims to increase the capacity of Namazis up to 8,000.

Mr Iqbal instructed to fast-track work on the construction and perform its ground breaking in next 30 days.

The meeting also approved a position paper for construction of National Accountability Bureau Punjab Complex in Lahore at a cost of Rs642m. Another position paper for the construction of waste water channel on Saim Nallah at Mamon Kanjan Tehsil Tandlianwala district Faisalabad with the cost of Rs251m.

In industry and commerce sector, the CDWP approved establishment of infrastructure in Quetta Industrial and Trading Estate phase 2 of Rs279m and setting up of an industrial estate at Bostan phase 1 of Rs519m.

In governance sector, reconstruction of Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) to function as a world class centre of excellence for research and post graduate teaching by improving infrastructure and building capacity was approved at the cost of Rs349m.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2016