ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Tuesday approved significant projects to transmit electricity from the power plants to the national grid for transfer to upcountry load centres.
Overall, the CDWP approved 18 projects worth Rs154 billion, including seven project costing Rs 134 billion, which were referred to the executive committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). In addition, it approved two position papers.
The meeting was chaired by Planning and Development Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal and was attended by senior officers of the provincial governments and ministries concerned.
In energy sector, CDWP approved and referred two projects including evacuation of power from two 1100 MW K-2/K-3 coastal power plants near Karachi worth Rs 5.6 billion with FEC Rs 2.6 billion and evacuation of power from two 660 MW Thar coal based SSRL/SECL power plant at Thar worth Rs 23 billion with FEC Rs 12 billion to ECNEC.
It also approved evacuation of power from 350 MW Siddiq sons energy coal-fired power plant near Port Qasim worth Rs 2.9 billion with FEC Rs 1.4 billion. The three projects aim to transmit power from the power plants and transfer it to the national grid.
The CDWP approved rehabilitation of damaged 66 KV grid station at Ghiljo Orakzai Agency worth Rs 145 million and construction of 132 KV SDT transmission line for making interconnecting arrangement between 132 KV grid station Kharan and Mall grid (82 KM) worth Rs 650 million. It referred 500 KV Chakwal sub-station worth Rs 7 billion with FEC Rs 3.8 billion to ECNEC. The CDWP also gave clearance and referred revised Koto hydropower project located in Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to ECNEC worth Rs 14 billion with FEC Rs 7 billion.
In transport and communication sector, CDWP approved revised project of improvement and construction of Jalkhad- Chilas road project worth Rs 7.8 billion, feasibility studies of up-gradation of existing railway line from Rohri to Koti- Taftan via Quetta including the realignment of Sibi-Spez and Section (1022 km) and feasibility study of rail link from Quetta to Kotla Jam (538 Kms) worth Rs 292 million. This project would help to connect Quetta to Peshawar through the rail.
It also approved up-gradation of VHF communication system for operational staff worth Rs 737 million. In addition, it approved up-gradation of a road from RCC Konodas Bridge to Naltar Airbase Camp via Nomal (47 km) of worth Rs 2.7 billion.
The CDWP approved Saaf Suthro Sindh (SSS) Programme – scaling up of rural sanitation worth Rs 1.5 billion in principle. While giving his observations the federal minister Ahsan observed that the project needed restructuring to ensure solid outcomes and deliverables. The CDWP approved Punjab Irrigated Agriculture Productivity Improvement (PIPIP) worth Rs 80 Billion with FEC Rs 48 billion. The minister stressed the need to partner agricultural university in this project for research and innovation purposes.
In Higher Education, CDWP approved the provision of academic and research facilities, Air University, Islamabad worth Rs 1.6 billion with FEC Rs 269 million. However, the minister urged to rationalise scope of the project. In Information Technology, CDWP approved the provision of seamless GSM Coverage along KKH in support of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and up-gradation of GSM Network for Gilgit Baltistan Phase-II worth Rs 3.3 billion.
The CDWP approved institutional strengthening & efficiency enhancement of Planning Commission worth Rs 200 million. It gave clearance to two projects in principle which include Pakistan Programme – the revival of wildlife resources in Pakistan worth Rs 1.1 billion and Zoological survey of Pakistan worth Rs 99 million. The chair observed to review and rationalise the cost of the project.
In addition, CDWP also approved 2 position papers which include construction of 100 dams in Tehsil Dubandal, Gulistan, Killa Abdullah and Chaman area in Killa Abdullah worth Rs 1.5 billion and Pehur high-level canal extension district Swabi worth Rs 10 billion.
