ISLAMABAD - Central Development Working Party (CDWP) is meeting here Thursday (today) to consider 23 projects worth Rs315005 million, including the already-completed Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus project.

The other important projects, to be discussed by CDWP, include RBOD-II, Kachi Canal and Green Line Bus Rapid Transit System Karachi.

The project of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus, which was deferred few months back, will be discussed again in the meeting. The total revised cost of the twin cities Metro Project is Rs 44737.09 million.

In the water sector, important projects are coming to the CDWP meeting. These include Kachi Canal Project (revised PC-I) having estimated cost of Rs102078 million, extension of RBOD from Sehwan to Sea at Gharo (RBOD-II) with estimated cost of Rs 64633 million, Baluchistan affluent Disposal into RBOD(RBOD-III) of Rs 6298.451 million, and Lower Indus Right Bank Irrigation and Drainage project (PC is still awaited for the project).

In energy sector, two projects are being considered which include evacuation of power from 350MW Siddiqsons Energy Coal fired plant near Port Qasim with an estimated cost of Rs2983.02 million and Koto Hydropower Project, Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Rs 14252.84 million.

In transport and communications sector, projects of construction of Rathoa-Haryam Bridge and its approaches across reservoir channel on Mirpur-Islamabad having estimated cost of Rs 6635.169 million, Green Line Bus Rapid Transit System Karachi of Rs24604.06 million, improvement and widening of additional 2 lanes on either side (Thokar Niaz Baig to Hudyiara Drain Multan Road) of Rs10397.30 million, technical assistance for Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit Project of Rs1253.001 million and project of Karachi Harbor worth Rs 1035 million will be considered.

In higher education, projects of expansion and upgradation of International Islamic University Islamabad with an estimated cost of Rs 2561.906 million and upgradation of University of Hazara Campus at Havelian to a full-fledged university of Rs 819.385 million would be considered.

In science and technology, the project of the establishment of New Geodetic Datum of Pakistan is coming to CDWP meeting, whose total cost is Rs 1645.900 million. Similarly in health sector, construction of (150-bedded) state of the art Hospital Haveli Kahutta AJK with the cost of Rs 1665 million is also being considered in CDWP.

In education sector, establishment and operation of Basic Education Community Schools in the country with the total cost of Rs 5332.74 million, reconstruction/rehabilitation of fully damaged schools in Bara, Khyber Agency under Chinese assistance (2016-17) with the total cost of Rs 1626.988 million will be discussed. In information technology, the Cabinet Division-sponsored project of Citizen Feed Back Monitoring Program is coming for the CDWP consideration. The total cost of the project is Rs 212.162 million.

Two projects of Physical Planning and Housing are coming to the CDWP and both are sponsored by the Ministry of Finance. The projects are 5 MGD Reverse Osmosis Sea Water Plant for Gwadar City worth Rs 5071 million and development of Ziarat Town, Baluchistan of Rs1000 million.