ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) cleared nine development projects worth Rs 79.28 billion.
The CDWP approved seven projects costing Rs 34.66 billion and recommended two major schemes—valued at Rs 44.62 billion — to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval.
The CDWP met here on Saturday with Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal in the chair. The meeting was attended by Secretary Awais Manzur Sumra, the Vice Chancellor of the PIDE, the Chief Economist, members of the Planning Commission, federal secretaries, heads of provincial Planning & Development departments, and senior officials from federal ministries and provincial governments.
The agenda covered projects across key sectors including education, governance, health, higher education, information technology, housing, power, transport and communications, and water resources.
CDWP approves 12 projects across ‘critical’ sectors
Higher Education: The CDWP approved the revised project “Establishment of University of Turbat (Phase-II)” costing Rs 1,930.330 million. The project features extensive civil works such as construction of a new academic block, student hostels, faculty and staff housing, internal roads, drainage, water supply, sewerage, solar systems, pathways, and electrification. It also includes networking and automation systems, lab equipment, books and journals, furniture, operational vehicles, and project coordination support.
The minister recalled the earlier initiative of awarding 5,000 scholarships to students from Balochistan and erstwhile FATA — now expanded in its second phase — along with special overseas scholarships for legal studies.
During the meeting, he restored previously reduced allocations for laboratory equipment, enhanced the budget for library materials, and approved solar installations to improve energy efficiency. He emphasized that Turbat University is emerging as a promising higher education institution and must be supported to achieve its full potential.
Information Technology
A revised IT-sector project titled “Automation of Post Office” costing Rs 6.645 billion — funded through the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KExim)—was approved. The project aims to digitize Pakistan Post by automating 2,761 post offices nationwide, modernizing financial services and streamlining postal operations.
It was briefed that the project, originally approved in 2017 at a cost of Rs 2.2 billion, remained stalled after being discontinued by the previous administration. The four-year delay caused the cost to escalate to Rs 6.5 billion and resulted in Pakistan Post losing nearly 65 percent of its revenue to digitally equipped competitors.
Approving the project, the minister stressed that digitalization of Pakistan Post is crucial for capturing a significant share of the growing e-commerce market. He said modernization will boost revenue, restore competitiveness, and help transform Pakistan Post into a sustainable, future-ready public service institution.
Other Sectoral Approvals
The CDWP approved several additional projects across multiple sectors:
Education & Training: “Establishment of Daanish School at Chitral, KP” at a cost of Rs 3.32 billion.
Governance: “Enhancement of Capacity of Federal Government Entities in Preparation of Policy/Programmes/Projects (Umbrella Programme)” worth Rs 5.432 billion.
Health: Revised project “Establishment of Stroke Intervention & Expansion of Critical Care/Cardiac Facilities at PIMS” costing Rs 7.221 billion.
Physical Planning & Housing: Revised project “Project Readiness Financing (PRF) for Punjab Intermediate Cities Improvement Investment Program” worth Rs 4.84 billion.
Power: Revised project “Rehabilitation of Khyber I, II & III and Nagar Khas I & II Hydropower Stations… (KfW Grant Program)” costing Rs 5.275 billion, approved after detailed deliberations.
Transport & Communications: The CDWP recommended the revised project “Construction of Link Highway (4-Lane) Connecting Lahore–Sialkot Motorway (LSM) at Umerkot to Narang Mandi including Narowal Eastern Bypass” costing Rs 28.964 billion to ECNEC.
The 3rd revised PC-I reduces and optimizes the project scope. It now includes: A 23-km road from Umerkot at LSM to Gujjar Chowk, Narang Mandi (Package-I) A 10.60-km Narowal Eastern Bypass (Package-III).
The revised PC-I uses NHA CSR 2024 rates for Package-I and FWO bid rates for Package-III. The road profile has also been adjusted to reflect the new High Flood Level (HFL) calculated after the August 2025 flood.
Water Resources: A revised PC-I of water-sector project “Pehur High Level Canal Extension Project (ADP No. 2263/130026)” costing Rs 15.654 billion was recommended to ECNEC.
The project is financed through multiple sources, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the KP government, and local farmers. In the revised PC-I: ADB’s share increased to Rs 13.95 billion, KP’s share rose to Rs 1,646.82 million and farmers’ contribution increased to Rs 56.36 million
The scope includes laying pressure pipelines (25 kms for Indus Amber and 3.67 kms for Janda Boka), constructing two open canal systems (37 km and 11.04 km), precise land leveling of 250 hectares, and installation of a high-efficiency irrigation system.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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