ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Monday cleared a total of 15 development projects at an estimated cost of Rs42.7 billion.

Presided over by the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Sartaj Aziz, the meeting formally approved 13 projects with a total cost of Rs12.3bn. Because of limitations of financial powers, the CDWP also recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) to approve three more projects involving a total cost of Rs30.6bn.

Under the current financial powers rules, the CDWP can itself approve projects costing no more than Rs3bn while projects of higher estimated costs are approved by the Ecnec on the clearance of the CDWP on technical grounds.

The meeting gave a concept clearance of Rs892.5 million for the establishment of Pakistan Glacier Monitoring Network, proposed by the water and power division and Rs15.750bn towards a technical study, to assess the commercial potential of coal in Harnai, Balochistan.

The CDWP recommended a Rs12.8bn project for upgradation and extension of supervisory control and data acquisition for approval to the Ecnec. It also requested Ecnec approve a Rs19.5bn project for rehabilitation of provincial roads under an Asian Development Bank funded programme for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. The KP government would meet partial funding requirements through its own annual development plan.

The CDWP referred a Rs5.857bn project to Ecnec for Defence Production Division for infrastructure upgradation of Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works. The project is expected to be completed in 36 months and help underwater repair of ships and submarines and rehabilitation of two dry docks. The project is also expected to improve security and control system and underwater surveillance technology.

In the energy sector, the CDWP approved an Rs835.9m project for detailed exploration of uranium resources in Bannu Basin and Kohat Plateau Phase-III. The project will also involve a foreign exchange component of Rs165m. The project is aimed at a detailed examination of uranium resources by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) in the areas of Kaisur and Marwat ranges of Bannu and Kohat.

The meeting also approved another PAEC project for National Tokamak Fusion Programme worth Rs423.5m.

In the food and agriculture sectors, the CDWP approved a PAEC project of Rs422m for the extension of Nuclear Institute of Agriculture. The project is aimed at improving the living standards of farmers by improving their technical skills and inputs.

The CDWP approved a Rs1.720 billion Ministry of Railways project for the complete track renewal by replacing metal sleepers in connection with signaling project on Lodhran-Shahdra section, near Lahore. The project is expected to revive the basic structure of the track and installation of modern signaling system.

The meeting approved four projects in the Higher Education system at a cumulative cost of Rs5.257bn. These included an Rs524.26m project for the provision of an academic block at Khushal Khan Khattak University, Karak with a foreign exchange component of Rs223m.

Another Rs894m project was approved for establishment of women sub campus of Swat University in Mingoro while Rs1.6bn project for development and improvement of academic facilities at Ghazi University of Dera Ghazi Khan was also approved. This would also involve Rs205m of foreign funding.

A Rs2.2bn project for the Higher Education Commission was approved by the CDWP for setting up of Women University Campus at Pishin and Khuzdar, Balochistan.

Four projects with a total cost of Rs3.546bn were approved for Physical Planning and Housing Sector. This included a Rs2.2bn project for construction of accommodation of Frontier Corps Headquarters KP South at Dera Ismail Khan and a Rs1.067bn worth of construction of accommodation for three wings at Ursoon Chitral, Trippaman Dir and Angoor Ada South Waziristan Agency.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2017