ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Tuesday approved Rs202.412 million project for the protection of infrastructure from floods and recommended a tourism-related project worth Rs17 billion to the Executive Committee of National Council (Ecnec).

Minister for Planning, Development and Reform, Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar chaired the CDWP meeting which was attended by Secretary Planning Zafar Hasan and senior officials from the federal and provincial governments.

The project, presented by the Ministry of Water Resources, seeks provision of stone pitching and stone apron along Qadirpur Loop Bund in district Ghotki. The project has been conceived by the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority after the onslaught of 2015 floods at Guddu Barrage.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Tourism Development Project — a mass media project worth Rs17bn — was referred to the Ecnec.

The project aims tourism development in KP for economic growth, employment and revenue generation, progress of local communities and poverty reduction through construction of roads, tourism allied infrastructure, visitor facilities, skills development and creating enabling environment for private sector operations.

Speaking on the occasion, planning minister appreciated the initiative taken by KP for taking lead in terms of integrated tourism development.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2019