ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Friday approved seven development projects of Rs 61.9 billion while it recommended four mega in transport communication, water resources and tourism sectors to the Executive Committee of the National Executive Council (ECNEC) for approval.
Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal chaired the meeting. The CDWP recommended the Punjab Tourism for Economic Growth Project worth Rs 5.7 billion to ECNEC for approval. The provincial project, to be initiated with the support of World Bank, focuses on the development of tourist places and protection of archaeological sites across Punjab.
The minister said the government of Punjab must ensure integrated approach by keeping existing institutions onboard to ensure their capacity building and avoid duplication of work. He instructed all the provinces to prepare master plans for development and protection of tourist places and archaeological sites.
The minister instructed for the establishment of a software technology park in Gilgit Baltistan to align with the completion of fibre optic project of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). “Establishment of this park will enable the people of this area to enter a new era of modern technologies and data highways,” he remarked.
He said that the CPEC fibre optic project will be completing by December this year which would open new ways, enabling youth to accrue benefits of this multi-billion dollars project.
In transport and communication sector, the CDWP recommended two mega projects of worth Rs 43.5 billion to the ECNEC. The projects include improvement and widening of additional 2-lanes on either side Thokar Niaz Baig to Hudyiara Drain Multan Road, worth Rs 10.3 billion. The project envisages improvement and widening of existing 4-lane dual carriageway, 11 km section of N-5 to 8-lane dual way by adding 2 additional lanes. The minister instructed the Punjab government to waive off taxes on the land acquisition of this project to ensure cost rationalisation.
The meeting also approved up gradation and widening of Jaglot-Skardu Road (S-1) project, costing Rs 33.13 billion. The project envisages up gradation of Skardu-Jaglot, 164 km, road aimed at providing better transportation facilities to people of the region.
The minister directed sending the project immediately to the ECNEC for a final approval and speedy mobilisation. He asked the National Highway Authority’s officials to ensure error-free designing and cost validation from a third party.
The CDWP also approved remodelling of Warsak Canal System in Peshawar and Nowshera districts, worth Rs 12.1 billion. The project envisages remodelling of 99 km long Warsak Gravity Canal, remodeling of 72km long Warsak Lift Canal, and the up gradation of existing pump house and construction of 5.2 km of auxiliary tunnel.
The minister directed sending the project to the ECNEC with a recommendation to follow the Council of Common Interest’s formula for water and flood protection projects, wherein cost of such project would be borne by the provincial and federal government on fifty per cent share basis.
The meeting also approved the establishment of Rs 100 million Special Communication Organisation (SCO) and Technical Training Institute (STTI) in Gilgit.
The key performance indicators of the project include the development of a high-quality skilled workforce relevant to the current and emerging employment market, and trained youth equipped with modern methods, making them able to accelerate the wheel of national technical development. The meeting directed the concerned officials to ensure construction of building aligned with the local traditional architecture.
The CDWP also approved skill development through donor special initiatives for 1100 FATA youth at public and private technical and vocational training institutes of FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, costing Rs 78 million.
In the higher education sector, the CDWP has given a go ahead to Rs 276.4 million Pakistan Productivity, Quality, and Innovation Initiative (PPQI).
