PDWP approves 26 projects worth Rs26.8b

Four projects for NMTDs worth Rs13.046b

PESHAWAR: A top development project approval body on Monday okayed some 26 projects for the province worth Rs26.798 billion, including four projects in the newly-merged tribal areas wroth Rs13.046 billion.

The meeting of the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) was held with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Planning and Development Department Additional Chief Secretary Atif Rehman in the chair.

The PDWP considered 35 projects from different sectors for approval including Local Government, Multi-sectoral Development, Energy and Power, Housing, Health, Elementary and Secondary Education (E&SE), Roads and Bridges, DWSS, water and home sectors.

Apart from the projects which were approved, a project was recommended to the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and then the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval.

A further eight projects were deferred due to inadequate designs. They were returned to their respective departments for rectification.

The PDWP approved four projects for the Accelerated Implementation Programme (AIP) and the Ten Years Development Programme (TYDP) worth Rs13.046 billion. These projects will help develop the newly-merged tribal areas (NMTDs) and bring them on par with the rest of the province.

The projects approved for the local government sector were provision for gasification and electrification works.

For the multi-sectoral development sector, a project for the establishment of a Provincial Monitoring Unit (PMU) for strengthening the research and development (RD) Section to deal with additional projects.

The second project approved in the sector was to cater to pending liabilities of various sectors and projects approved under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the fiscal year 2017-18 which had been approved through a supplementary grant by the provincial cabinet and cleared by a scrutiny committee headed by the Communication and Works (C&W) Department’s secretary.

The last project approved in the sector was to restructure the Electric Inspectorate of the K-P Energy and Power Department.

For the Energy and Power sector, the projects approved were the electrification of 100 villages through solar or alternate energy. Another project pertained to procuring land for hydel projects.

A project to conduct a feasibility study for setting up a Provincial Transmission and Dispatch Company was also approved. Feasibility for setting up the Rs300 million, HDF funded, power evacuation from Chitral to Chakdara Grid was also approved.

A feasibility study (PC-II) for identifying hydropower potential in NMTDs was also approved. The project will be funded under TYDP.

Under the health sector, the second phase of setting up the Bacha Khan Medical College in Mardan was approved.

In the education sector, a project to improve the poor performance of public schools was approved. A project to provide stipend and scholarships to students of NMTDs was approved.

Feasibility studies for the establishment of educational institutes and feasibility for establishment of another cadet college in North Waziristan were approved.

The construction and rehabilitation of the Oghi Ahi Battal Road from Jandar Pari to Balian Chakal Road in Darband area of Mansehra was approved. A project to build a bridge over the Panjkora River at Timergara Bypass to connect Kandaro Munda Road in Lower Dir was approved.

The feasibility study for a detailed engineering plan and construction of the five-kilometre Matta Bypass Road in Swat was approved.

The construction of the second phase of a bridge on River Kabul at Michani in NMTDs, construction of a six-kilometre road in Khyber Tribal District and the construction of a nine-kilometre road from Khaisoor Thangari Road to Asad Khel Causeway in the North Waziristan Tribal District.

For DWSS, a project to solarize 800 existing water supply schemes under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Socio-Economic Grant.

For irrigation, the construction of Jaba Dam in Khyber Tribal District was approved. The construction and improvement of roads along Pir Sabaq District, Chowki District, minors and Misri Banda Minor in Swabi.

A project to improve and rehabilitate of Palai Dam Canal System and Tangi irrigation scheme in Charsadda.

The party also approved to revamp and rehabilitate surface and sub-surface drainage system at required places in Charsadda.

They also approved to construct and improve Canal Petrol roads and rehabilitation of already installed Solar Tube Wells in union councils ALO, Kharki, Dheri, Qasmi, Shamozia, Main Essa, Kati Garhi, Babozai VC Shah Bathkhela  VC Dewan Khel District Mardan.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2019.