ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has accorded approval to 17 projects worth Rs18.8 billion and recommended nine projects worth Rs594.5 billion to the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) for consideration.
The meeting was held on Monday under the chairmanship of Planning Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar. Planning Secretary Zafar Hasan, along with the senior officials from the federal and provincial governments, was also present on the occasion.
Projects related to energy, transport & communication, science & technology, health, population, industries & commerce, food & agriculture and education were presented before the meeting.
The Ministry of Water Resources presented a position paper of Dasu Hydel Power Project due to its increased land and compensation cost from Rs19 billion to Rs36 billion (total worth of Rs510 billion). The project was approved and referred to ECNEC for consideration.
The Ministry of National Food, Security & Research presented five projects, namely ‘Productivity Enhancement of Wheat’ worth Rs31.98 billion, ;Productivity Enhancement of Rice’ worth Rs15.80 billion, ‘Productivity Enhancement of Sugarcane’ worth Rs5.01 billion, ‘National Oilseeds Enhancement Programme’ worth Rs10.16 billion and ‘Cage Culture Cluster Development Project’ worth Rs6.58 billion. All projects were recommended to ECNEC for consideration.
Three projects and a position paper related to the energy sector were also presented in the meeting. The first project titled ‘Up-gradation of POL Testing Facilities of HDIP at Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta and ISO Certification of Petroleum Testing Laboratory at Islamabad’ worth Rs293 million was presented and approved. The second energy project ‘Construction of 132 KV Grid Station at Mashkay & 132 KV STD Nal-Mashkay Transmission Line (120km)’ worth Rs1.19 billion was also approved. The third project ‘500 KV Moro Grid Station’ worth Rs5.40 billion was recommended to ECNEC for consideration.
A project related to transport and communication titled ‘Construction of Groyne Wall/Break Water and allied works at East Bay (Demi Zer) Gwadar’ worth Rs1.01 billion was also approved in the meeting.
Four projects related to science & technology were presented on the occasion. The Higher Education Department (HEC) presented two projects ‘Strengthening and Development of Physical and Technological Infrastructure at the University of Haripur’ worth Rs1.54 billion and ‘Livestock Sector Development through Capacity Building, Applied Research and Technology Transfer, University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences’ worth Rs1.90 billion. the projects were approved in the meeting.
The Ministry of Science & Technology presented two projects titled ‘Establishment of Pak-Korea Testing Laboratory for PV Modules & Allied Equipment’ worth Rs1.38 billion and ‘Up-gradation of Polymers and Plastics Laboratory at PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Lahore’ worth Rs140.249 million. The projects were also accorded approval.
Three health-related projects were presented in the meeting. The Ministry of National Health, Services, Regulation & Coordination presented ‘Treatment of Cancer Patients of ICT, AJK & Gilgit-Baltistan’ worth Rs4.77 billion, which was recommended to ECNEC for consideration.
PAEC presented two projects ‘Up-gradation of Atomic Energy Cancer Hospital-KIRAN (AECH-KIRAN)’ worth Rs2.34 billion, and ‘Up-gradation of Diagnostic & Therapeutic Facilities at BINO, Bahawalpur’ worth Rs1.37 billion were also given approval.
Three projects related to population planning were presented by the Ministry of National Health, Services, Regulation & Coordination. Projects titled ‘Population Welfare Programme, Gilgit-Baltistan’ worth Rs422 million, ‘Population Welfare Programme, Azad Jammu Kashmir’ worth Rs355 million and ‘Population Welfare Programme, FATA (erstwhile)’ worth Rs184 million were accorded approval in the meeting.
Four projects related to Industries & Commerce were presented. Commerce Division presented ‘Remodelling and Expansion of Karachi Expo Centre (Component-II)’ worth Rs2.67 billion, which was given approval.
The Ministry of Industries & Production presented three projects titled ‘Handicraft Export Development Project’ worth Rs385 million, ‘Industrial Designing & Automation Centres (IDAC)’ worth Rs1.47 billion and ‘Footwear Cluster Development through CAD/CAM & CNC Machining’ worth Rs78.7 million. All projects received approval from the meeting.
The Ministry of Education requested an extension till June 2019 in ‘Establishment and Operation of Basic Education Community Schools in Pakistan’, worth Rs4.62 billion. The project was referred to ECNEC for consideration.
