ISLAMABAD, Aug 27: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Monday cleared 38 projects worth Rs72 billion, including the construction of Rs18 billion expressway in Rawalpindi already awarded to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) without inviting any tender.

The meeting, presided over by Planning Commission deputy chairman Dr Akram Sheikh, approved 17 projects worth Rs3.80 billion and referred 21 projects of Rs68.2 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for approval.

Dr Asad Ali Shah, member infrastructure, Planning Commission, said that the Rs17.67 Lai expressway project, which had been renamed the Sheikh Rashid Expressway and Flood Control Project, was recommended for approval by Ecnec. He confirmed that the project’s contract had already been awarded to the FWO without inviting any tender.

He said some projects of national importance and immediate nature could be started without going through the rules and the prime minister had approved the contract. He said the project would be financed equally by the federal and Punjab governments. Mohammad Asif Sheikh, spokesman for the Planning Commission, told reporters that the meeting approved 15 projects of Rs50.8 billion in the infrastructure sector, 19 projects of Rs17.4 billion in the social sector and four projects worth Rs3.9 billion in other sectors.

It approved four projects worth Rs27.366 billion in the transport and communication sector, five projects of Rs20.473 billion in the energy sector, four projects of Rs16.29 billion in the physical planning and housing sector and two projects worth Rs13.38 billion in the water sector.

He said the CDWP had approved an important initiative in the education sector under which the government would extend scholarships to 2,000 students of Fata and Balochistan.

The project will cost Rs981 million and will continue for three years. The government has reserved 569 seats in reputed educational institutions for students of Fata and Balochistan.

The spokesman said the meeting approved the establishment of four nuclear medical centres in Swat, Nawabshah, Bunnu and DI Khan at a cost of Rs3.3 billion.

It also approved the Pakistan’s Dairy Company having a paid-up capital of Rs2 billion. The company will collect milk from across the country and establish processing plants.