Rs 26.1 billion schemes approved: CDWP refers three Rs 52.2 billion mega projects to Ecnec

Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved as many as seven development projects at the cost of Rs 26.1 billion and recommended three mega projects valued at Rs 52.2 billion to Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) for consideration.

The CDWP met with Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan in the chair here at Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform on Wednesday. Senior officials from federal and provincial governments were also present in the meeting.

Projects related to devolution & area development, transport & communication, physical planning & housing and water resources were presented in the meeting.

Two projects related to devolution and area development were presented in the meeting. The first project "Bajour area Development Project," worth Rs 861.917 million, was approved by CDWP. The main objective of this project is to eliminate poppy cultivation by providing alternate livelihood facilities to the people of the area, while it will also make the area accessible to political administration by construction of rural roads. Second project "Mohamand Area Development Project," worth Rs 796.564 million, was also approved in the meeting.

A project related to transport & communication namely "Dualization & improvement of Mandra, Chakwal Road Project" valued at Rs 12.774 billion was referred to ECNEC. This project envisages improvement of 64 km long existing road to a width of 7.3 meters and construction of additional 7.3 meters wide road to make it dual carriage way, beside provision of allied facilities and structure.

A project related to manpower namely "Prime Minister's special initiative to implement 'Skill for All' strategy as Catalyst for TVET Sector Development in Pakistan," worth Rs 9,880 million, was approved in the meeting. The main object of the project is provision of sufficiently skilled workforce for various national projects like CPEC projects and international job market, positively engaging the huge youth bulge in Pakistan by providing them opportunities to channelize their energies in the right direction.

As many as four projects related to physical planning & housing were presented in the meeting. First project titled "Gravity Flow water Supply Scheme Mansehra," worth Rs 6.47 billion, was approved in the meeting. Second project was "Development of Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on EPC/ Turnkey Basis," worth Rs 16.546 billion, was referred to ECNEC. Third project "Readiness Financing for Punjab provincial Project - Punjab Intermediate Cities Improvement Investment program PC-II," worth Rs 2.571 billion, was also approved in the meeting. Fourth project was "Up-gradation of Cabinet Division's 6 Aviation Squadron for Relief Operations and Enhancement of Security," worth Rs. 638.772 million, was also approved by CDWP.

Two projects related to water resources were presented in the meeting. First project was "Kachi Canal Project," worth Rs 22.921 billion, was recommended to the ECNEC. Second project was "Toiwar Batozai Storage Dam project, district Killa Saifullah, Balochistan," worth Rs 4.91 billion, was approved by the CDWP.