CDWP approves seven uplift projects worth Rs15.17 billion, refers Rs108 billion schemes to ECNEC

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Thursday approved seven development projects worth Rs15.174 billion and recommended four major projects costing Rs108.16 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for further consideration.

The meeting, chaired by Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Ahsan Iqbal, reviewed 11 development projects with a total estimated cost of Rs123.334 billion, said a news release.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Economist, Vice Chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), members of the Planning Commission, federal secretaries, heads of provincial Planning and Development departments, and senior representatives from relevant ministries and provincial governments.

The agenda included projects from the education and training, governance, health, higher education, information technology, physical planning and housing, power, and water sectors aimed at strengthening infrastructure and improving public service delivery.

The forum approved a project titled “Establishment of Daanish School at Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Haveli-Kahuta)” worth Rs4,687.703 million. The CDWP directed the authorities concerned to rationalise the project cost in line with the previously approved PC-I of Daanish Schools.

While reviewing the proposal, the deputy chairman emphasised the importance of expanding access to quality education in underserved areas. He directed the Ministry of Education to provide a year-wise breakup and operational expenditure details of all Daanish Schools.

The ministry was also asked to share future financial requirements with the Finance Division for the upcoming budget and three-year projections to ensure transparency in operational commitments and the smooth functioning of these institutions.

Two revised projects related to the health sector were presented during the meeting.

The project titled “Upgradation of DHQ Hospital District Hafizabad” worth Rs7,931.330 million was recommended to ECNEC for consideration.

During the discussion, Ahsan Iqbal observed that the project falls within the provincial domain as it is located in a major city of Punjab. He emphasised that such initiatives should ideally be financed by the provincial government in line with constitutional responsibilities.

The forum noted that the federal government had already extended financial support beyond its mandated share. It was decided that any additional financial liability would be borne by the Government of Punjab, which would also reimburse excess funds released by the Centre.

Another project titled “National Health Support Programme (KP Component)” worth Rs1,335 million was approved after detailed deliberations.

The CDWP approved a project titled “Prime Minister’s Scheme for Enabling Youth with Physical Challenges at HEIs through Electric Wheelchairs, Laptops for the Blind, Audio-Visual Aids – HEC” worth Rs1,846.410 million.

The deputy chairman directed the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to ensure that the facility is extended strictly to full-time enrolled students of public sector universities so that the targeted beneficiaries receive maximum support.

A revised project titled “Land Records Management Information System in the Rural Areas of ICT, Islamabad” worth Rs185.691 million was also approved.

The project aims to digitise land records in rural areas of Islamabad Capital Territory to improve transparency, efficiency and service delivery.

Two projects related to physical planning and housing were approved by the forum.

These include “Construction of Admin Block of Supreme Court Branch Registry at Quetta – New” worth Rs231.604 million and “Pakistan Audit and Accounts Academy (PAAA) Islamabad – Revised” worth Rs3,106.030 million.

The projects are expected to strengthen institutional infrastructure and enhance administrative capacity in the public sector.

Three projects related to the power sector were discussed during the meeting. Two projects, “Electricity Distribution Efficiency Improvement Project HESCO funded by the World Bank” worth Rs19,016.811 million and “Electricity Distribution Efficiency Improvement Project (PESCO)” worth Rs30,255.810 million, were recommended to ECNEC for further consideration. The projects aim to improve electricity distribution efficiency and reduce system losses.

Another project titled “Hydropower and Renewable Energy-II, Gilgit-Baltistan” worth Rs3,781.476 million was approved by the forum. The initiative seeks to promote renewable energy and improve electricity access in the region.

A revised project titled “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Irrigated Agriculture Improvement Project” worth Rs50,956.294 million was recommended to ECNEC for approval.

The project will be financed through World Bank funding and farmers’ contributions and aims to improve irrigation efficiency and water management across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the merged districts.

It includes rehabilitation of thousands of community watercourses, installation of high-efficiency irrigation systems, construction of water storage tanks and capacity-building of water users’ associations to promote sustainable agricultural practices.