ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Friday cleared 15 development projects worth an estimated Rs520 billion.

Of these, nine projects totalling Rs496.485bn were referred to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for formal approval, while six projects valued at Rs22.487bn were approved directly by the CDWP.

Presided over by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, the CDWP meeting evaluated proposals across various sectors, including education, health, housing, social welfare, and transport. Under financial rules, the CDWP can approve projects costing up to Rs7.5bn, while higher-value projects are submitted to Ecnec following technical clearance.

In the higher education sector, the CDWP approved four projects: Rs2.8bn for upgrading academic and infrastructure facilities at Hazara University, Mansehra; Rs1.342bn for establishing a women’s sub-campus at Batkhela under the University of Malakand; Rs6.637bn for Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships for students from Bangladesh, Central Asia, and other friendly countries; and Rs3.357bn for the construction of hostels at UET Lahore.

Refers nine mega projects totalling Rs496bn to Ecnec, while approving six others worth Rs22bn

A Rs10.6bn ‘System Transformation Grant (STG)’ education project, financed by the World Bank to support SDG 4, was referred to Ecnec. In the health sector, the CDWP approved the Rs1.429bn Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Centre (formerly Quaid-e-Azam Health Tower) in Islamabad.

In housing, a Rs42.09bn “Flood Response Emergency Housing Project (Phase III)” of the Sindh government, funded by the European Investment Bank, was referred to Ecnec. It aims to rebuild over 116,000 climate-resilient homes for flood victims. The Rs6.92bn AJK Legislative Assembly Complex was also approved.

Two major social welfare projects were referred to Ecnec: the Rs185.89bn Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP) Phase-II, co-funded by the World Bank, AIIB, and EIB; and the Rs30.915bn Sindh Coastal Resilience Project to enhance climate-resilient livelihoods across 500 villages in Badin, Sujawal, and Thatta.

The CDWP also referred the revised Rs13.765bn Shahrah-e-Nagar road project (Pissan to Hoper Nagar) to Ecnec, asking the GB government to share land costs 50:50 with the federal government.

Four major transport projects were also referred to Ecnec: Rs112bn for dualisation and rehabilitation of DG Khan–DI Khan section of N-55 (208.2km), 86pc funded by ADB; Rs63.151bn for dualisation of Rajanpur–DG Khan section of N-55 (121.5km), also ADB-funded; Rs24.130bn for dualisation of Old Bannu Road to improve access in Bannu, Sarai Naurang, and Waziristan; and Rs13.995bn for blacktopping a 160km road from Duki to Chamalang in Balochistan.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2025