CDWP recommends three projects worth Rs209.5 bn to ENCEC

ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) meeting her on Monday accorded approval to a project worth Rs 552.708 million and recommended 03 projects worth Rs 209.5 billion to Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC).

The meeting was held in Islamabad today with Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Makhdum Khusro Bakhtiar in the chair.

Speaking on the occasion, Makhdum Khusro Bakhtiar said that the incumbent government had the political will and was committed to enhance tax revenue collection by mobilizing internal resources.

He expressed optimism that FBR would bring the best policy under the proposal for increasing tax revenue collection.

According to a statement issued from the ministry, Secretary Planning Zafar Hasan, senior officials from federal and provincial governments were also present in the meeting. Government of Sindh presented concept clearance proposal of ‘Karachi Urban Mobility Project (Yellow Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)’ worth Rs. 65968 which was also approved by CDWP.

Projects related to energy, transport and communication sectors were presented in the meeting. Three projects related to energy were presented.

The first energy project ‘500 KV HVDC Transmission System between Tajikistan and Pakistan for Central Asia-South Asia Transmission Interconnection (CASA-1000)’ worth Rs. 45989.084 Million was presented by Power Division which was recommended to ECNEC for consideration.

The statement further read that the project envisions transmission of electricity from Tajikistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan. Energy & Power Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa presented second energy project ‘Preparation Advance facility for proposed World Bank assisted Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hydropower Development Project (PC-II)’ worth Rs. 552.708 million which was approved by CDWP.

The World Bank assistance was being sought to accelerate development of hydropower projects in the province, the statement said and added that the third energy project ‘Balakot Hydropower Project’ worth Rs. 85912.926 million was presented by Energy & Power Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which was recommended to ECNEC for consideration.

The project envisions construction of 310 MW Balakot hydropower project on Kunhar river, a major tributary of Jhelum river. The energy generated will provide more reliable and consistent power to local area and the national grid. In the transport and communication sector, Government of Sindh presented ‘Construction of BRT Red Line Project’ worth Rs. 77598 million which was also referred to ECNEC for consideration, read the statement.

Concept Clearance proposal of FBR’s project ‘Domestic Resource Mobilization’ worth US $ 400 million was also given approval by CDWP.