CDWP approves eight projects worth Rs31.6b

Recommends five schemes of Rs195b to ECNEC for consideration

ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Monday approved eight projects worth Rs31.6 billion and recommended five others worth Rs195.1 billion to the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) for consideration. Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan chaired the CDWP meeting where senior officials of federal and provincial governments were present. A project related to devolution and area development namely Southern Punjab Poverty Alleviation worth Rs15.5 billion was referred to Ecnec. The overall objective of the project is to contribute to poverty reduction in southern Punjab. Under the scheme, the income of poor households will be increased by raising agricultural productivity, improving livelihood opportunities, improving community physical infrastructure and levels of skills through vocational training, especially for women. Two projects related to education were also approved in the meeting. These included the Establishment and Operation of Basic Education Community Schools worth Rs5.2 billion and Improving Human Development Indicators in Pakistan with focus on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) worth Rs3.3 billion. Four projects related to energy production and supply were presented in the meeting. Of these, the 500kv Chakwal Substation worth Rs8.9 billion and the Hydropower and Renewable Energy-II Gilgit-Baltistan worth Rs2.3 billion were approved. Two other energy projects namely Tarbela Extension Hydropower Project worth Rs123 billion and Evacuation of Power from Wind Power Projects at Jhimpir and Gharo worth Rs13.4 billion were rec

ommended to Ecnec for approval. Two projects related to governance namely the Punjab Cities Programme worth Rs32.5 billion and Pakistan Single Window worth Rs10.6 billion were referred to Ecnec. A project related to health namely Procurement, Installation

and Commissioning of Medical Equipment for Three Hospitals in Afghanistan, including the 60-bed Nishtar Kidney Hospital, Jalalabad, 200-bed Jinnah Hospital, Kabul and 100-bed Naib Amanullah Khan Logari Hospital, Logar worth Rs2.4 billion was approved by the CDWP. It also gave the go-ahead to a project pertaining to industries and commerce titled National Strategic Programme for Acquisition of Industrial Technology worth Rs2.9 billion. The main objective of the project is to upgrade technology and skills of economic sectors in Pakistan. For that purpose, cross-sector interventions are planned and designed for textile, engineering and technology sectors. A project related to physical planning and housing titled Construction of Three Sewerage Treatment Plants and Related Sewerage System to Treat Waste Water Falling into Korangi River and Rawal Lake worth Rs3.9 billion was reconsidered due to the change in shape and cost of the project. After discussion, the CDWP approved the scheme. The CDWP gave the green signal to a project related to food and agriculture namely Promoting Research for Productivity Enhancement in Pulses worth Rs2.6 billion.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th, 2019.

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