Islamabad: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has given the green light to five development projects totaling Rs. 55.164 billion during a recent meeting chaired by Ahsan Iqbal, the Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives. The meeting, attended by key government officials, focused on development initiatives across critical sectors including Environment, Food and Agriculture, Health, and Physical Planning and Housing.

Of the five projects, two with a cumulative cost of Rs. 7.725 billion were approved at the CDWP level. The remaining three, valued at Rs. 47.439 billion, have been recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for further approval.

The environment sector saw the approval of a project for the “Installation of Weather Surveillance Radar at Sukkur,” valued at Rs. 5725.013 million. The chair expressed concern over delays in the project’s implementation, urging prioritization of its completion.

In the food and agriculture sector, the “Balochistan Livelihoods and Entrepreneurship Project,” with a revised cost of Rs. 12461.661 million, was recommended to ECNEC. Funded by the World Bank and other international bodies, this initiative aims to foster employment and sustainable enterprise development in eight districts of Balochistan.

For the health sector, the expansion of the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology and National Institute of Heart Diseases in Rawalpindi is proposed at an estimated Rs. 25457.912 million. This project intends to double the hospital’s bed capacity and enhance various medical facilities.

In the physical planning and housing sector, the construction of a new Balochistan Assembly building in Quetta, valued at Rs. 9519 million, received in-principle approval. The project will address the need for a modern legislative facility with increased capacity.

Another project in the same sector, focusing on development initiatives for Kashmore district in Sindh, was approved at Rs. 1999.988 million. A committee has been established to oversee the project’s implementation.

The CDWP’s decisions reflect a continued commitment to advancing national development across multiple sectors.