CDWP okays seven projects worth over Rs100b

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development Ahsan Iqbal on Friday chaired a meeting of the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) that approved a total of seven development projects, amounting to Rs101.053 billion, ARY News reported.

“Out of these, three projects with a cumulative cost of Rs10.053 billion were approved at the CDWP level. Additionally, four major projects, amounting to approximately Rs 91 billion, were recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final consideration and approval,” a news release said.

The meeting was attended by Secretary Planning Awais Manzur Sumra, along with members of the Planning Commission, Chief Economist of PC, Federal Secretaries, heads of Provincial Planning & Development (P&D) departments, and senior representatives from relevant Federal Ministries and Provincial Governments.

The meeting focused on development projects across key sectors, including Higher Education, Information Technology, Physical Planning & Housing, Transport & Communications and Tourism.

The forum approved two significant projects in the Higher Education sector namely “Development of the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Rawalpindi” with the cost of Rs3,387.386 million, and “Establishment of Sukkur IBA University Campus at Mirpurkhas”, worth to Rs1,699.052 million, after detailed discussions..

A project related to Information Technology sector namely “Gwadar Safe City Project (Revised)” worth Rs. 4966.905 million was approved by the forum.

The project is proposed to be financed through PSDP on a 50:50 cost-sharing basis between the Federal and Provincial Governments.

The purpose of Gwadar Safe City Project will result in the development of safety within the city. CCTV for creation of a safer environment reducing acts of vandalism, theft, security threats to strategic places/locations and identification of attacks on members of the public and foreigners. The revision of PC-1 incorporates input from all stakeholders regarding the rationalized project components.

The CDWP referred a project related to Physical Planning & Housing namely “Sewerage System from Larechs Colony to Gulshan-E-Ravi, Lahore (Through Trenchless Technology) “worth Rs. 49,270.400 million to ECNEC for further consideration.

The project is proposed to be financed through foreign funding of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

WASA Lahore, with financial support from AIIB and technical assistance from Project Management Consultants (JV of EBA-ECSP-EEC-TEAM), is undertaking a major infrastructure upgrade through the construction of a new Trunk Sewerage System in Central Lahore using micro-tunneling technology to replace the outdated sewerage network laid 25–60 years ago.

Executed on EPC mode, the project aims to separate sewerage from storm water, minimize disruption, and address urban runoff by laying three major trunk lines: Line-A (7.25 km, 2400 mm diameter), Line-B (6.644 km, 1500–2400 mm), and Line-C (5.337 km, 3500 mm), connecting key disposal stations across Lahore and accommodating future expansions under both WASA and Cantonment Board jurisdictions.

The forum also forwarded a  project related to tourism sector namely “Punjab Tourism for Economic Growth Project (PTEGP) – World Bank Assisted (Revised)” worth Rs. 12472 million  to ECNEC for further consideration.

The project is proposed to be financed through foreign funding of World Bank’s loan. The Punjab Tourism project focuses on boosting tourism through four key components: policy and institutional reforms including restructuring of TDCP and skills development, infrastructure and destination development featuring road connectivity, museum upgrades, digital facilities, solar systems, and private sector investment plans; project management and institutional capacity building to support tourism-related departments; and a zero-cost Contingent Emergency Response Component for crisis response.

Besides, the it referred a project related to Transport & Communications sector namely “Construction of Dualization of Sialkot Eminabad Road up to Kamoki Including Link to Motorway Length: 65.10 Km (Section-I (Ghatto Rora) to (Dharam Kot 28.86 km), including link to Motorway (3.6 Km, Length:32.46 Km) in District Sialkot New” worth Rs 12973.025 million to ECNEC.

The CDWP referred another project namely “Rehabilitation & Upgradation of Jhaljao – Bela Road (79.89 km) Revised” worth Rs 16219.630 million to ECNEC for further consideration.