ISLAMABAD: In a major stride towards steering Pakistan’s development agenda through sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient initiatives, the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) approved on Sunday 18 development projects across critical sectors of national growth.

Out of these, 12 projects worth Rs35.4 billion were approved at the CDWP level, while six projects amounting to Rs280.2bn were recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for consideration.

The agenda focused on projects in food and agriculture, governance, health, higher education, housing, social welfare, power, transport, and water resourcess.

Modern farming methods

Recognising agriculture as the backbone of the country’s economy and the cornerstone of food security, the CDWP approved, the flagship project for the purpose, the Punjab Resilient and Inclusive Agriculture Tra­ns­formation (PRIAT), worth Rs68.67bn, was referred to Ecnec.

Financed through the World Bank and the Government of Punjab, the project aims to usher in a new era of climate-smart and community-driven agriculture.

Also, the National Programme for Animal Disease Surveillance and Control, worth Rs7.35bn, was approved to enhance Pakistan’s compliance with international sanitary standards and to boost livestock exports. Additionally, the Punjab Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Agriculture Mechanisation Project (P-CLAMP), worth Rs36.12bn and financed by the ADB was referred to Ecnec.

Under the governance reforms agenda, the Punjab Resource Improvement and Digital Effectiveness (Pride) Programme worth Rs3.08bn was approved.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2025