In another major leapfrog into the federal government’s ambitious development agenda, the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) Tuesday recommended ECNEC to consider sixteen mega development projects costing Rs 74.48 billion in energy, transport, communication and health sectors.
The meeting, chaired by Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal, also accorded concept clearance to two foreign funded projects of worth 27.55 Billion, proposed by the government of Sindh.
ENERGY SECTOR
In the energy sector, the CDWP recommended three mega projects worth 27 billion to ECNEC, including construction of new 132 kv grid stations and transmissions lines, distribution rehabilitation (energy loss reduction) and distribution expansion.
According to an official document available with Pakistan Today, the cost of the project is 12,702.60 million, while the main objective of the project is construction of new grid stations, conversion of 66 kv to 132 and the extension and construction of new transmission lines.
The scope of work includes construction of 12 new grid stations; conversion of nine grid stations from 66 kv to 132 kv; augmentation of 22 grid stations with each having 132 kv; extension of 15 transformers having 13w to 2 kv; extension of 21 lines bays; construction of 95 km 132 kv double circuit transmission lines; and construction of 545 km 132 kv SDT transmission lines.
Another project is the Energy Loss Reduction (ELR) for SEPCO which aims at reducing technical losses resulting from the distribution conductors and equipment’s poor power factor. The project includes construction of new 11 kv lines (600 km); re-conductors and equipment of 11 kv lines (2055 km); Installation of 137 capacitors; replacement of 2,200 overloaded transformers; construction of 550new transformers substations; and 25000 new energy meters.
Another project aims at replacements of 1100 earthing. Another, about distribution of power (DOP) SEPCO. Under the project, with an estimated cost of Rs 3,825.16 million, the expansion of the distribution network of SEPCO to meet the growing demand of the area is aimed. The main components include providing 61151 new electricity connections to the perspective consumers; addition of 2050 km 11 kv lines; addition of 1150 km LT lines; installation of 2498 distribution transformers of different capacities.
All the three projects proposed by Sukkur Electric Supply Company aimed to upgrade the power distribution system and ensure loss reduction by installation of new grid stations, transmission lines and transformers in Sukkur, Jacobabad and adjacent districts. Ahsan Iqbal, while approving the schemes, instructed that all three projects must be completed in one year’s period.
HEALTH SECTOR
The meeting approved inclusion of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh provinces in the Prime Minister’s National Health Program, allocating another Rs 8.179 billion for the purpose. Per the document, the current PC-I has been prepared in the light of the direction/minutes issued by the PM’s office that consultation with ministry of planning and ministry of finance may be sought, while additional secretary to the prime minister may coordinate in the matter of pay package for the human resource of the program. The project envisages to improve the health status of the population in the country, ensuring access to quality health care especially enhancing coverage and access to secondary and priority treatments of the poor and vulnerable population through the objectives which may be summarized as: 60pc (approx. 100 million lives under 32 PMT) of the poorest families in all the districts in the phase manner, shall be covered by health insurance under this scheme; Out-of-pocket expenditure by insured families for inpatient care reduced by at least 60pc and insured families report reduction in episodes of catastrophic health expenditures for inpatient hospitalization to at least 60pc.
The CDWP also approved up-gradation of non-radiation modern endoscopy diagnostic services in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (SZABMU) Islamabad, worth Rs 465 million.
The minister directed that deserving families should be facilitated through the PM’s National Health Program. He also instructed that the concerned authorities should work out a detailed 5 year plan to assess the financial impact of the initiative and ensure that resources required and extension in the program must match each other.
HIGHER EDUCATION
The CDWP also approved 4 projects in the education sector which include three projects in Balochistan. A project of Strengthening University of Education, Lahore was discussed in detail where CDWP approved only one portion of the project to strengthen Lahore based campuses of this university.
The university is focusing on teachers training programs, as well as catering the training needs of in-service teachers across the province/country. However, all these programs in different campuses are being run without adequate facilities like proper academic infrastructure, adequate laboratories and essential facilities and due to this very reason, the University was unable to strengthen its teachers’ education programs.
The present project envisages strengthening of academic programs and providing necessary facilities at the following four campuses of the University of Education at Township Lahore; Multan; Faisalabad; and Dera Ghazi Khan.
Provision of quality education opportunities to the students of Balochistan and FTA in cadet colleges, polytechnic, vocational and other institutes also include the list. The ministry of inter-provincial coordination was directed by the prime minister’s office to prepare the PC-I of the project “Provision of Quality Education Opportunities to the Students of Balochistan and FATA under the Prime Minister’s Directive”. The initiative was the continuation of the commitment of the federal government to keep the people of Balochistan and FATA in the mainstream to alleviate the sense of deprivation amongst the masses of under-developed areas of the country. Ministry of IPC prepared the PC-I and submitted to the Planning Commission for approval. However Mo PD&R desired that HEC should prepare and implement the subject project
The minister instructed the officials of Higher Education Commission to ensure consolidation of resources and discourage the mushroom growth of universities and its networks.
Minister further directed HEC officials to finalize a national framework for degree awarding institutes and conduct an academic audit for ensuring quality.
CDWP also approved project of University College of Dera Murad Jamali, Nasirabad, worth 1.50 billion. It also approved prime minister’s announced project of establishment of University College of Zhob, under University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences worth 1.2 billion.
It also approved establishment/up-gradation of Gwadar University project worth 67 million with instruction that the master planning/designing should be consulted with foreign experts already engaged in the master planning of Gwadar City.
INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE
A project worth 490.036 million, titled 1000 Industrial Stitching Unit (Phase-1) was approved by CDWP, instructing for PC-1 revision. A committee was formed to report in 30 days and ensured complete rehash of this project to ensure its maximum benefits for youth of the country.
PHYSICAL PLANNING AND HOUSING
CDWP approved two projects of construction of IB offices along with CPEC and construction/extension of residential accommodation of IB Academy worth 580.883 million.
However, it instructed for the revision of two projects in housing sector, including extension of federal lodges at Karachi and consultancy services for Margalla International Convention Center, Islamabad.
TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
The Central Development Working Party has approved the construction of Lahore-Sialkot Motorway (LSM) Link (4-Lane) via Narang Mandi to Narowal, 73.3 km worth 15.98 billion with an observation to rationalize the cost.
It also approved a project of widening, improvement and rehabilitation of remaining portion from National Highways N-25, Kararo-Wadh Section worth 1.7 billion, instructing for rationalization of cost.
CDWP also recommended widening and improvement of Ghalanai-Muhammad Ghat Road project at Mohmand Agency, FATA worth 4.39 billion to ECNEC.
In transport and communication sector, CDWP also approved the reopening of rail car from Kohat-Rawalpindi-Kohat on experimental basis, worth 381 million. The project was initiated following the prime minister’s special directives.
