Islamabad, The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved a slate of nine national projects valued at Rs. 224 billion, potentially marking a significant boost in Pakistan’s sectoral development. In a meeting overseen by the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, five projects were given the green light with a combined cost of Rs. 10.022 billion, while four projects, totaling Rs. 213.86 billion, were recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for subsequent approval.
According to Press Information Department, the meeting’s attendees included Secretary Planning Awais Manzur Sumra and high-level officials from various Federal Ministries and Planning Commission divisions. Officials from the provincial governments also took part, underscoring the collaborative effort across different levels of government. The projects under consideration span a broad array of sectors including Food and Agriculture, Education, Energy, Physical Planning and Housing, Science and Technology, Social Welfare, Transport and Communication, and Water Resources.
A notable project aimed at the Food and Agriculture sector is the ‘Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Security Support Project,’ which boasts a proposed budget of Rs. 24,640 million and is slated for further deliberation by ECNEC. Targeting multiple districts across KPK and anticipated to receive funding from the Asian Development Bank, the project represents a strategic investment in regional food security.
The Education sector benefits from the approval of the ‘Rehabilitation of Schools in Balochistan Affected by Flooding’ project, set at Rs. 1400 million. This project will focus on districts like Lasbela, Dera Bugti, and Quetta, among others, with the objective of rehabilitating flood-damaged schools to improve educational access for children in those regions. Additionally, the ‘Sindh School Rehabilitation Project’ with a staggering proposed budget of Rs. 83187.500 million is recommended to ECNEC, indicating a substantial commitment to education in 17 districts of Sindh.
In the area of Physical Planning and Housing, the ‘Permanent Settlement of IIOJK Refugees 1989 onwards (phase-1)’ has been sanctioned, directing Rs. 3096.500 million towards the development of settlements in various AJK districts.
The Social Sector’s ‘Women Inclusive Finance Development Program,’ valued at Rs. 31,413.047 million, aims to bolster support for women entrepreneurs and has been referred to ECNEC. This program, with the Ministry of Finance at the helm and execution through the State Bank of Pakistan, will feature a specialized Project Implementation Unit and a steering committee to guide the financial proceedings.
The Transport and Communication sector is set to see significant improvements with the approval of the construction of the BT Road from Nagor Sharif to Suntsar and the enhancement of the Noseri Leswa By-Pass road in Muzaffarabad Neelum, AJK, which are crucial for regional connectivity.
For Water Resources, the ‘Sindh Barrages Improvement Project Phase-II’ that encompasses the rehabilitation of the Sukkur Barrage and the remaining modernization of the Guddu Barrage has been recommended to ECNEC, carrying a budget of Rs. 74618.340 million. The Science and Technology sector also receives a boost with the CDWP’s approval of the ‘Establishment of the PAK-Korea Testing Laboratory for PV Modules and Allied equipment.’
The CDWP’s recent move underscores the government’s strategic approach to enhancing multi-sectoral development, setting the stage for improved social welfare, educational standards, and infrastructure in Pakistan.