ISLAMABAD - The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Thursday gave approval to 42 projects with estimated cost of Rs 107.2 billion. Majority of the projects is related to infrastructure and social sectors. Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Sardar Aseff Ahmad Ali, chaired the CDWP meeting, which was also attended by the sponsoring agencies and the representatives of provincial governments and special areas. According to the official statement, CDWP approved 42 projects costing Rs 107.2 billion, including foreign aid component of Rs 10 billion. Of the 42 projects, 27 are related to infrastructure sector costing Rs49.3b, while 13 projects are related to social sector costing Rs57.6b. Besides, two projects relating to commerce and industry costing Rs0.3b were also approved. For rehabilitation and amelioration of the socio-economic condition of the Swat area through multi-sectoral activities, i.e. provision of social infrastructure, the CDWP recommended Swat Development Package to ECNEC costing Rs 4 billion. This project would greatly help resettle the IDPs and generate economic activity in that area. To improve the transport sector, bridges across the Indus River connecting Larkana and Khairpur, linking Kandhkot located on the National Highway N-55 with Ghotki and a bridge on River Ravi Kamalia Harrapa Road, district Toba Tek Singh have been recommended to ECNEC at the cost of Rs17.4 billion. Construction of these bridges will provide a better link in economically backward areas and reduce the distance among major towns. To make up the deficiencies in energy sector, schemes like Establishment of 132 KV Grid Station, Bajaur, costing Rs 453 million and Dargai Pall small dam in South Waziristan Agency costing Rs 313.232 million were also given approval. These schemes will not only resolve the electricity problem of these areas but also generate employment opportunity for the people of the backward areas. CDWP has authorised WAPDA to undertake feasibility study of Pattan Hydro Power Project. This project will generate 2800 MW of electricity. Population Welfare Programme, which is an ongoing activity executed in all provinces, have been recommended to ECNEC for its further extension up to year 2014 costing Rs 50 billion. CDWP, however, has set up a committee to make recommendations to devise a better delivery mechanism. The CDWP also considered three concept papers namely; Disaster Management Programme Sindh, Communication System for Coastal Management in Arabian Sea (JICA) and to increase the participation and reduce dropout of female students at the middle schooling level in the rural of Sindh.