ISLAMABAD  -  The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) under the chairmanship of Federal Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Minister Ahsan Iqbal approved six projects with a total cost of Rs22.487 billion and recommended nine projects, amounting to Rs496.485 billion, to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval on Friday. 

Four projects related to Higher Education: “Uplifting of Academic and Infrastructure Facilities at Hazara Universality, Mansehra” with the revised cost of Rs2,804.899 million; “Establishment of Women Sub-Campus at Batkhela, University of Malakand” with the revised cost of Rs1,341.873 million; “Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships for Bangladesh, Central Asian and Friendly Countries Study in Pakistan (HEC)- New” worth Rs6,637.088 million; and “Hostels for UET Lahore and Sub-Campuses” worth Rs3,357.095 million were approved by the CDWP. A project related to Education and Training sector namely “System Transformation Grant (STG)” worth Rs10,605.111 million referred to ECNEC for further consideration. Source of financing of the project is GPE Grant (World Bank). 

A project related to Health sector namely “Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Centre (JMC&RC) previously Quaid-e-Azam Health Tower Islamabad” worth Rs1,429.150 million approved by the forum. Two projects of Physical Planning and Housing sector presented in the meeting namely “Flood Response Emergency Housing Project (Phase III) EIB/GoS Financing” worth Rs42,090 million referred to ECNEC for further consideration. The project is proposed to be financed through foreign funding of EIB. It aims to rebuild over 116,000 multi-hazard resilient homes for flood victims in Sindh and provide inclusive infrastructure for vulnerable groups. Another project of Physical Planning and Housing sector got the approval namely “AJK Legislative Assembly Complex” with the revised cost of Rs6,917.11 million. 

Two projects related to Social Welfare sector presented in the meeting namely “Sindh Coastal Resilience Project (SCRP) – Livelihood and Community Infrastructure” worth Rs30,915.227 million referred to ECNEC for further consideration. The project is proposed to be financed through foreign funding of IFAD. The forum constituted a committee under the secretary planning to conduct a detailed review of the project before submission to ECNEC, ensuring that all requirements highlighted by the CDWP forum are fully addressed. Another project of Social Welfare sector presented in the meeting namely “Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project(KWSSIP) Phase-II” referred to the ECNEC with the revised cost of Rs185,894.093 million. This WB, AIIB, and EIB-financed initiative will enhance Karachi’s water and sewerage systems through infrastructure upgrades, institutional reforms, and capacity building. 

A project related to Special Areas of AJK and GB presented in the meeting namely “Construction of Road from Pissan to Hoper Nagar (40-km) (Shahrah–e–Nagar)” referred to the ECNEC with the revised cost of Rs13,764.926 million. According to the Revised PC-I of the Project, after completion, the road is to provide a reliable, all-weather, and safe transportation corridor spanning 40-kilometre through the scenic and strategically important Nagar Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan. During the meeting, the GB government was asked to share the land cost equally with the federal government on a 50:50 basis. Four projects related to Transport and Communications sector presented in the meeting namely “Dualisation and Rehabilitation of DG Khan – DI Khan Section of N-55 as 4-Lane Highway (208.2-km) Package-2, Lot 3 and 4” referred to ECNEC with the revised cost of Rs111,940.070 million (86 percent ADB-financed and 14 percent PSDP share). 

The second project of T&C sector presented namely “Dualisation and Rehabilitation of Rajanpur – DG Khan Section of N-55 as 4-Lane Highway (121.50-km) Package-1, Lot 1 and 2” referred to ECNEC with the revised cost of Rs63,150.570 million (86 percent ADB-financed and 14 percent PSDP share). The third project of T&C sector namely “Dualisation and Improvement of Old Bannu Road” referred to the ECNEC with the revised cost of Rs24,130 million. The project aims to enhance mobility in the underdeveloped areas of district Bannu by providing a vital link between Bannu, Sarai Naurang, and Waziristan, improving access to markets and economic opportunities for the local population. The fourth project of the T&C sector presented in the meeting namely “Construction of Black Top Road from Duki to Chamalang with Link Road” (160- km)” recommended to ECNEC for further consideration with the revised cost of Rs13,994.701 million.