CDWP approves five projects worth over Rs141 bn

ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Wednesday approved five projects worth Rs. 141.93 billion and referred two projects worth Rs. 140.96 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for further approval.

The meeting was chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, and was also attended by Secretary Planning Zafar Hasan, members and senior officials from federal and provincial governments.

The projects presented for approval were related to agriculture and food, physical planning and housing, energy, transport and communications, health, information technology, and science & technology sectors. In addition, two position papers were also presented in the meeting.

In agriculture and food section, the project to upgrade an Arid Zone Research Centre (AZRC) and establish new adaptive research cum demonstration institute worth Rs. 691.564 million was approved by the CDWP.

The project would focus on poverty alleviation through introduction of improved agricultural technologies in the project areas. The research centres would also strengthen linkages with provincial and international research organisations.

In physical planning and housing sector, CDWP referred the Lahore Water and Wastewater Management project worth Rs. 67503.625 million to ECNEC. The project has been approved by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) headquartered in Beijing, China.

The project envisages hiring consultants through Project Preparation Special Fund (PSF) to carry out activities of development, operation and management of water, wastewater treatment infrastructure facilities.

In energy sector, the project of 220 kV Head Faqirian substation in district Sargodha along with 220 kV double circuit transmission lines from Head Faqirian to Ludewala was also forwarded to ECNEC for approval.

The project worth Rs. 5504.87 million aims to improve power supply system including reliability and uninterrupted power supply.

In transport and communication section, CDWP referred the Peshawar Sustainable Bus Rapid Transit Corridor project worth Rs. 67,953 million to ECNEC. This aims at high quality mass transit that will trigger urban development, activities and density along the BRT corridor improving economic growth besides giving access into the city.

In health sector, the ‘Strengthening of monitoring and surveillance of health systems’ project worth Rs. 157.790 million to improve access to healthcare services by providing facilities at doorstep was approved.