ISLAMABAD - The Central Development Working Party Thursday approved 18 projects with a total cost of Rs23 billion, referred three projects worth Rs52 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, and gave concept clearance to two projects worth Rs10 billion.
The meeting, chaired by Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal, was attended by senior federal and provincial officials concerned.
The minister instructed the concerned to thoroughly and professionally examine projects in the pre-CDWP meetings, and bring schemes to the forum after exercising due diligence. He also suggested the third party evaluation and validation for certain plans where bigger stakes exist.
Twenty-five projects of the education, governance, energy, manpower, Higher Education Commission, physical planning and housing, transport and communication, manpower and water sectors were considered. For all the approved projects, including position papers and concept clearance, the Foreign Exchange Components (FEC) is about Rs11 billion, whereas allocations in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2015-16 have been made to the tune of Rs5.22 billion.
Five projects of the education sector include establishment of University of Dir at cost of Rs985.34 million with a PSDP allocation of Rs50 million, establishment and development of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur sub-campus at Rahim Yar Khan worth Rs726 million with the FEC of Rs157.35 million and PSDP allocation of Rs50 million, post-doctoral fellowship programme (HEC) at cost of Rs2,834.68 million with the FEC share of Rs2,652 million and PSDP allocation of Rs60 million, construction of boundary wall of the University of Agriculture Peshawar worth Rs239.806 million and establishment of University of Turbat with cost of Rs2,820.622 million with a PSDP allocation of Rs413 million and FEC of Rs284.88 million.
Another approved project of the education sector was ‘Improving Human Development Indicators in Pakistan with focus of the MDGs relating to education six EFA goals’, which will cost Rs2,365.83 million and an amount of Rs500 million has been allocated in the PSDP 2015-16. The Prime Minister’s Youth Skill Development Programme (Phase-III) 2015-17 was approved, and will cost Rs2,630 million. CDWP also approved project of the governance sector ‘Centre of excellence for the CPEC’ which will cost Rs996.636 million.
Feasibility study for enhancing the transmission capacity of NTDC’s 500KV transmission system by applying series compensation’ of the energy sector, was also approved. The project will be completed at a cost of Rs133.18 million with an FEC share of Rs106.83 million.
Six projects of the transport and communication sector were approved, which included: flyover at the Nag Shah Chowk Multan to cost Rs1.47 billion with PSDP allocation of Rs150 million, construction of flyover on Shaheen Chowk N-5 Gujrat worth Rs1,264.2 million with PSDP allocation of Rs800 million, comprehensive feasibility study of upgradation of the existing main line-II (ML-II) from Kotri to Attock city (1,254 kilometres) to cost Rs300 million with an equal PSDP allocation, Airport Security Force (ASF) accommodation at the New Islamabad Airport worth Rs2,325.516 million with the PSDP allocation of Rs400 million and construction of metalled road in Nankana Sahib to cost Rs998.63 having the PSDP allocation of Rs100 million.
Three projects of the physical planning and housing included: upgradation and strengthening of the Cabinet Division six Aviation Squadron for relief operations and enhancement of security worth Rs544.88 million with a PSDP allocation of Rs167.13 million and the FEC of Rs163.46 million, construction of auditorium for 500 persons at the Civil Service Academy Walton Lahore at cost of Rs102.58 million with a PSDP allocation of Rs25.32 million, and construction of 15 residences for the Superintendents of Police Sector H-11 Islamabad with a total cost of Rs154 million and PSDP allocation of Rs21 million.
Two approved projects of the water sector were: construction of Zamir Gul Dam district Kohat at cost of Rs987.77 million with an allocation of Rs500 million in the PSDP 2015-16, and agriculture development water management project in Killa Abdullah and Killa Saifullah district (ADWM) of Balochistan with cost Rs857.597 million.
Three projects, referred to the ECNEC for approval, were: construction of Mangi Dam Quetta worth Rs9.85 billion with an allocation of Rs500 million in the PSDP 2015-16, Kurram Tangi Dam with a foreign aid of Rs4.47 billion and PSDP allocation of Rs600 million, and construction of additional carriage way of Indus Highway (N-55) Sehwan-Ratodero Section JICA funded worth Rs19.45 billion with a PSDP allocation of Rs850 million.
One position paper of the transport and communication sector was ‘construction of 4-lane underpass at Wah gate No.1 Taxila with cost of Rs993.55 million with a PSDP allocation of Rs250 million. The concept clearance was accorded to two proposals, that is, construction of 48MW Shounter HPP district Neelum AJK worth Rs8, 972.68 million and establishment of the Cadet College Chilas Diamer at cost of Rs1, 657.791 million with an FEC share of Rs994.495 million.