Islamabad: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP), chaired by Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, has approved 12 development projects valued at Rs 435.665 billion under the URAAN Pakistan Initiative. The projects aim to bolster key sectors of the national economy and advance the government’s reform agenda, with a significant focus on the power sector.
According to Press Information Department, the CDWP approved six projects worth Rs 16.904 billion and recommended six significant projects totaling Rs 418.761 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for further evaluation. The meeting, attended by key officials from various federal ministries and provincial governments, covered sectors including Information Technology, Physical Planning & Housing, Power, and Water. These projects align with the government’s vision for strengthening human capital, modernizing governance, and promoting sustainable economic growth.
The meeting addressed seven projects in the power sector, approving initiatives like the Asset Performance Management System for various distribution companies and capacity building for energy security programs. Two major projects concerning Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) and installation of reactive power compensation devices were forwarded to ECNEC for further consideration.
Ahsan Iqbal emphasized the importance of energy security as a core aspect of the URAAN Pakistan initiative, highlighting the need for modern energy systems to support economic growth, investment, and job creation. He also stressed the necessity of modernizing power infrastructure and adopting advanced technologies to enhance service delivery and minimize losses.
The meeting also reviewed projects in other sectors, including the “Punjab Urban Land Systems Enhancement Project” and the “Smart Islamabad Initiative,” with recommendations for further evaluation. Other significant projects, such as the construction of a wastewater treatment plant in Lahore and the Jalalpur Irrigation Canal Project, were also discussed, with recommendations made to ECNEC.
Additionally, the “Southern Punjab Poverty Alleviation Project,” supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), was highlighted as a key component of the URAAN Pakistan 5Es National Economic Transformation Plan, targeting economic development and poverty alleviation in remote areas of Southern Punjab.