Ministry seeks Rs 3.664 billion for power for Gwadar from Iran: CDWP to consider uplift projects on Saturday

The Ministry of Water and Power has sought an allocation of Rs 3.664 billion for importing power from Iran for Gwadar and this will be one of the important projects out of around 32 development schemes costing over Rs 55 billion that will be considered by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP), when it meets on Saturday.
The CDWP will consider power import from Iran that also would include foreign exchange component (FEC) of Rs 1.934 billion. The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) project of setting up Nuclear Fuel Enrichment Plant (NFEP), costing Rs 13.708 billion, is also on the agenda of the meeting, sources told Business Recorder on Wednesday.
The FEC in all projects has been estimated at over Rs 30 billion, according to sources. In the energy sector, the CDWP would also consider development scheme of Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA), which is aimed at strengthening regulatory infrastructure by applying innovative radioactive waste management technology. The project will be implemented at a cost of Rs 338 million, that would also include Rs 80 million FEC.
The project of adoption of social accountability (SA-8000) costing Rs 144.3 million, up-gradation and additional works of Expo Center, Lahore amounting to Rs 1.37 billion and Agro-food processing facilities in Multan will come under consideration of the meeting, which will be chaired by the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Dr Akram Sheikh.
The establishment of oceanographic research vessel for coastal waters of Rs 1.3 billion, construction of office building for Ministry of Science and Technology and its organisations of Rs 620 million; upgradation of facilities to produce silicon solar modules upto 80 KW annual capacity of Rs 262 million and establishment of cast metals and foundry technology centre (revised PC-I) of Rs 326 million will also come up for consideration of the CDWP. The Ministry of Science and Technology is the sponsoring agency of these projects.
In transport and communication sector, four projects costing over Rs 14 billion would be taken up. Prominent in these projects are Rs 3.596 billion scheme of land acquisition for Faisalabad-Khanewal Motorway (M4); Rs 1.775 billion project of construction of bridge over River Sutlej connecting Pakpattan with Minchinabad.
In telecommunication, the rural telecommunication and E-Services Development project of $134 million would also come up for consideration of the CDWP. In environment sector, the CDWP would consider three projects, namely establishment of emission testing/motor vehicles examination system, Islamabad of Rs 294.3 million, establishment of combined effluent treatment plant and construction of conveyance system for carrying waste at Hattar industrial estate for phase-IV of Rs 225 million and Rachna Doab afforestation project costing Rs 212.182 million.
In physical planning and housing sector, a total of six projects costing over 2.4 billion would be considered by the CDWP. In higher education, four schemes costing over Rs 13.4 billion are also on the agenda of the meeting. Other important projects include establishment of federal drought recovery assistance program project (DRAPP)/ DERA-II (second revision), costing Rs 215 million and construction of sports stadium at Taxila at a cost of Rs 178.3 million.