Islamabad: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved 16 development projects, totaling Rs 259.68 billion, chaired by Minister Ahsan Iqbal. Nine projects, worth Rs 27.40 billion, have been approved, while seven projects, valued at Rs 232.28 billion, are recommended for further approval by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).

According to a statement by Press Information Department, the meeting included significant discussions on projects spanning education, governance, higher education, mass media, physical planning and housing, power, and transport and communications. The Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Ahsan Iqbal, emphasized the government’s vision of transforming Pakistan into a knowledge economy through the “Uraan Pakistan” initiative.

During the meeting, several education-focused projects were highlighted, including the establishment of Daanish Schools in Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir. A key initiative, the “Prime Minister’s Pakistan Fund for Education,” worth Rs 14,000 million, was also referred to ECNEC for consideration.

In the governance sector, a project titled “Enhancing Public-Private Partnerships in Pakistan” for Sindh, valued at Rs 27,853.845 million, aims to foster sustainable infrastructure through public-private partnerships. This project is set to be financed by a combination of an ADB loan, FCDO grant, and the Government of Sindh’s share.

The CDWP also approved projects in higher education, mass media, and physical planning. The establishment of the “Arshad Nadeem/Shahbaz Sharif High-Performance Sports Academy” at the Pakistan Sports Complex aims to nurture athletic talent. Additionally, the “Expo Centre Quetta” and “Infrastructure Development of Islamabad Techno Polis” were approved.

In the power sector, the “220 kV Transmission System Network Reinforcement” project in Islamabad and Burhan area was referred to ECNEC. This aims to meet the growing demand for reliable power supply by enhancing the capacity of the NTDC transmission system.

Transport and communications projects, such as the “Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Programme” and the “Operationalization of Green Line BRTS,” were also referred to ECNEC. These initiatives are aimed at restoring critical infrastructure and improving urban transport systems.