ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Tuesday approved four projects worth Rs806.2 million.

It also referred another two projects amounting to Rs7404.6m to the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) for further approval.

Chaired by Minister for Planning and Development Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtyar, the meeting discussed projects related to water resources, health, physical planning and housing sectors.

The CDWP approved the feasibility study and detailed design of Burj Aziz Khan Dam project in Pishin Lora costing Rs67.41m.

The proposed dam envisages short reservoir of water of 23 million gallons per day (MGD), and will supply 21MGD drinking water to Quetta city.

The meeting discussed the Kachhi Canal project. Keeping in view the technical aspects of the project, the planning minister constituted a committee for carrying out detailed review of the project for submitting its report within fifteen days.

Talking about the project, he said the canal will irrigate millions of acres of land in Dera Bugti district, boost agricultural production in the area and provide clean drinking water to local community.

In health sector, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination presented four projects for Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad.

The first approved project was the upgradation of existing facilities at PIMS Islamabad worth Rs200m. The second project approved includes the construction of a female doctors’ hostel at PIMS worth Rs222.1m. The third project is related to the procurement of MRI equipment for PIMS radiology department at a cost of Rs316.73m.

A fourth project related to the extension of intensive care department of Mother and Child Healthcare Centre at PIMS worth Rs3,886.6m was referred to the Ecnec for approval.

In the physical planning and housing sector, the CDWP referred a project for the construction of four sewerage treatment plants and related sewerage system to treat the waste water falling into Korang river, Rawal lake and their area in Islamabad worth Rs3,518m to the Ecnec.

The project aims to control pollution resulting from untreated sewerage directly coming into the Rawal Lake Islamabad from neighbouring settlements through installation of sewerage treatment plants.

The meeting was attended by Secretary Planning Zafar Hasan, CDWP members and senior officials from all concerned federal and provincial governments departments.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2019