Islamabad, February 07, 2023 (PPI-OT):The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has cleared ten development projects worth Rs 87.17 billion during its meeting held on Monday under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary Planning Ministry, Chief Economist, Members Planning Commission and representatives from the various ministries and divisions. The forum considered ten projects related to the Ministry of Housing and Works, Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination, Ministry of Communication, Ministry of Science and Technology and Higher Education Commission HEC.
The forum has cleared the Reconstruction of Turbat- Mand Road from M-8 till Iranian Border-Radeeq at the cost of Rs 20,992.875m, Construction of Pun Panjgur-Gichak-Awaran Road, District Awaran at the cost of Rs 29,638.353m, Reconstruction of Mangopir at the cost of Rs 3190.432m, Completion of Niheng Bridge at Rodbun, District Kech at the cost of Rs 673.688m, 26MW Shagharthang Hydropower Project at the cost of Rs 17,972.902m, Strengthening Institution for Refugee’s Administration (SIRA) at the cost of Rs 2,043.000m, Establishment of Cancer Hospital in ICT at the cost of Rs 3,406.169m, Gwadar Safe City Project (Phase-1) at the cost of Rs4,966.905m, Development of Ziarat Town at the cost of Rs 5,558.545m and Establishment of National Forensic Science Laboratory at the cost of Rs 1978.422m.
The forum has recommended the Reconstruction of Turbat- Mand Road from M-8 till Iranian Border-Radeeq at the cost of Rs 20,992.875m to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNE). The revised Project envisages completion of 410-meter long and 8.2-meter wide two lane Niheng Bridge at Rodbun, District Kech, and Baluchistan Province. The start point of the project shoots from the existing Nehang Bridge, the South side embankment of which has been washed away due to floods.
The forum also recommended the Construction of Pun Panjgur-Gichak-Awaran Road, District Awaran at the cost of Rs 29,638.353m to the ECNE. The revised Project envisages, construction of 228-kilometer long and 7.3-meter wide (3.65-meter wide each) asphaltic carriageway, starts from Panjgur – Gichak -Awaran, District Panjgur and Awaran, in the Southern Baluchistan Region. The project road will connect Gichak with Panjgur, as well as with Karachi via Bela – Hoshab Road. Similarly, the Reconstruction of Mangopir at the cost of Rs 3190.432m was also cleared by the forum.
The CDWP also approved a project Strengthening Institutions for Refugee’s Administration SIRA at the cost of Rs 2.043.000m. The Ministry of States and Frontier Regions is mandated to deal with the issues related to Afghan refugees. The Chief Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees (CCAR) being an attached department of the Ministry of SAFRON is the operational arm to manage Afghan Refugees. CCAR and its Provincial Afghan Commission rate’s offices are responsible for advising/ providing inputs on policy matters and implementing the policies of the Ministry of SAFRON on Afghan Refugees’ issues.
It is estimated that nearly three million Afghan Refugees are living in Pakistan i.e. 1.436 million Afghans with Proof of Registration Cards (POR) for their identity; in addition to approximately: 840,000 Afghan Citizen Card holders and an estimated 700,000 undocumented Afghan living in Pakistan.
The Ministry of SAFRON with the technical assistance of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has registered these Afghan Refugees. The Government of Pakistan has allowed UNHCR to conduct refugee status determination (RSD). Individuals recognized as refugees at the outcome of the UNHCR’s RSD process and members of their family are issued with UNHCR Refugee Identity cards, known as Proof of Registration (PoR) cards.
The forum also recommenced 26 MW Shagharthang Hydropower Project, Skardu at the cost of 17,972.902m to the ECNE. The Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan is the sponsoring agency of the project. The main objective of the project is to exploit the potential of hydropower available in the middle stretch of Kachura Lungma to generate 26 MW output, which will augment power to the existing electricity network of the area to resolve power shortage to the consumers of load centers in Skardu valley.
The CDWP also approved the Establishment of Cancer Hospital in ICT (Revised) at the cost of Rs 3,406.169m. The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination is the sponsoring agency of the project. This project envisages establishment of a 200 bedded state of the art hospital for indoor admission of various types of cancer patients. The division of the beds include 75 beds for adult oncology, 25 beds for women oncology, and 25 beds for ICU, 30 beds for private and 20 beds for emergencies.
Similarly, the forum approved Gwadar Safe City Project (Phase-1) at the cost of Rs 4,966.905m. Govt of Balochistan is the sponsoring Agency. This project envisages to provide a safer city for the residents of Gwadar particularly at the identified strategic locations and also help the law enforcement agencies in detecting crime and investigating crime by collecting evidence.
Gwadar is relatively an unsafe city, with many western governments advising their citizens “against travelling to the city. The current infrastructure is insufficient to cater the security needs of Gwadar city. Gwadar safe city has been developed precisely to help all government stakeholders including city administration, Gwadar police and other Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) to mitigate the security and communication challenges.
Establishment of National Forensic Science Laboratory at the cost of Rs 1978.422m was also approved by the forum. The Ministry of Interior is the sponsoring agency of the project. The laboratory will be established in ICT.
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Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives
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