ISLAMABAD, July 10: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) of the Planning Commission has approved 24 development projects at a cost of Rs46.2 billion, including exploration of uranium resources project to build indigenous nuclear power plants.

Official sources told Dawn here on Saturday that the CDWP meeting held on June 24 approved all the 24 development projects which will be undertaken during 2004-05.

The finance division has been directed to release timely funds for the projects after their formal approval by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).

Uranium resources project, which will cost Rs614.1 million, has been approved to ensure indigenous supply of uranium against abrupt suspension of such foreign supplies in the future.

"Pakistan cannot rely on foreign uranium supplies which at times are disrupted without any reason. Therefore, a decision has been taken to develop such resources in D.G. Khan division," a source said.

The CDWP approved Bahawalpur Rural Development Project (revised) at a cost of Rs3.1bn which also included Rs2bn funding to be offered by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The objective of the project is to increase rural incomes and employment through improvements in rural infrastructure services, value-added production and economic and marketing activities coupled with skilled development and capacity building of village communities.

Sources said that on the directives of the higher authorities the meeting also approved Rs1.2bn Re-organization of Law Enforcement Agencies in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) project. All the expenditure would be met from the block allocation provided for Fata in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) of 2004-05.

Likewise, the meeting approved Rs1.1bn NWFP Rural Water Supply and Sanitation project (revised) for providing water and sanitation services to approximately one million rural population in all the districts of the province.