ISLAMABAD - Central Development Working Party (CDWP) Tuesday gave go-ahead to 13 Projects worth of Rs88.24 billion including Attabad Lake Hydropower Project worth Rs25.348 billion.

At a CDWP meeting presided over by Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, cleared 11 development projects with a cumulative cost of Rs 46.2billion  & recommended 2 projects worth Rs 42.04billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for further consideration.

Projects related to Food and Agriculture, Energy, Health and Water Resources were considered in the meeting. Four projects related to Agriculture and Food presented in the meeting namely “Promotion of Olive Cultivation on Commercial Scale in Pakistan (phase-II) National program on Olive Deepening” worth Rs 6410.229 million approved in the meeting. The phase-II envisages olive cultivation on an area of 75000 acres and grafting of 5000000 wild olive plants throughout the country on public and private land/forests. Further it will provide 6 olive oil extraction units, 10 fruit processing units and 10 nursery tunnels on 50% matching grant basis to private sector. Second project presented namely “Fostering Economic Growth through promotion of High Value Crops in Gilgit Baltistan” worth Rs 1500 million approved in the meeting. The main objective of the project is the promotion of agribusiness in GB by introducing improved germ plasm of potential fruit species, by introduction of floriculture as source of income to the farmers of the area with specific focus on women farmers, establishment of local processed food production units through women farmer’s entrepreneurs, establishment of organic Nut oil production units for women farmer’s entrepreneurs ets.  The third project namely “Enhancement of Livestock production in Gilgit-Baltistan” worth Rs 1315.079 million and the main objective of the project is improvement of cattle breeds by breeding of large animas with quality semen through establishment of 137 artificial insemination centers by engaging literate eligible youth through their capacity building and required inputs and tools kits. Further capacity building of 1975 farmers(Man/Women) in various fields of livestock and 160 veterinary officers and Para vet staff will be trained.  The forth project presented namely “Transforming Agriculture through Innovative Research in GB” worth Rs 1050 million were approved by CDWP forum.

CDWP recommended 2 projects worth Rs42.04billion to Ecnec for further consideration

Four projects related to Energy presented in the meeting namely “Construction of new 132KV Grid Station & Transmission Lines” worth Rs 9334 million was approved, the project will cover districts Sukkur, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Larkana, Ghotki, Kamber, Kandhkot, Dadu, Naushero Feroze, and Khairpur and Nawabshah and Jamshoroo.  Second project presented namely “Rehabilitation of  Sepco Distribution System under Federal PDP” worth Rs 3000 million and “STG Plan 2021-22 Grant PSDP” worth Rs 7009.08 million approved in the meeting. The execution agency is Hesco and the project envisages construction of new grid station and transmission system along with rehabilitation in order to strengthen existing network of Power Division/Hesco. 

Another project of Energy presented in the meeting namely “Attabad Lake Hydropower Project (54 MW)” worth Rs 25347.526 million were referred to Ecnec for further approval. The project envisages construction of 54 MW hydropower project located on the right bank of Hunza River, towards downstream end of Attabad Lake developed as a result of massive landslide about 15 kilometers upstream of Gilgit. The generated energy will be transmitted to the load centers in upper Hunza, center and Lower Hunza. 

Four projects related to Health presented in the CDWP forum namely “Establishment of Medical & Nursing College at Gilgit” worth Rs 4923.7478 million and ‘Construction of PHQ Hospital Gilgit Based on Sustainable Master Plan” worth Rs 2962.730 million and “Strengthening existing capacity of NIH for effective response against Covid-19 Pandemic in Pakistan” worth Rs 492.326 million and “Strengthening and Up-gradation of the Nursing and Midwifery sub sector in Pakistan” worth Rs 8194.265 were approved by the CDWP forum.

 A project related to Water Resources presented in the meeting namely “Remodeling of Warsak Canal System in Peshawar & Nowshera District” worth Rs 16695.81 million referred to Ecnec for further approval. The objective of the project is overcoming the scarcity of water through augmentation and by efficient utilization of irrigation water, managing the quality of drainage effluent in an environmentally transition and implantation irrigated flood control and on Farm water management programs etc.