The approved projects were from energy‚ water resources‚ education‚ governance‚ science and technology‚ social welfare and agriculture sectors. PHOTO: FILE
The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved 38 development projects worth Rs244.5 billion in a meeting chaired by Minister for Planning‚ Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal.
The approved projects were from energy‚ water resources‚ education‚ governance‚ science and technology‚ social welfare and agriculture sectors. Multiple feasibility studies to improve rail and transport links along the proposed economic corridor with China were also approved.
The meeting cleared a feasibility study for rail tracks connecting Gwadar to Karachi through a 700km track‚ and one from Gwadar to Basima and then from Basima to Jacobabad via Khuzdar spread over 1,048 km.
Another feasibility study for new rail tracks from Havelian to the Pakistan-China border was also approved. The feasibility study for the Karachi-Lahore 1,160km motorway and the Muzaffarabad-Mirpur-Mangla N-5 expressway was also approved.
A project costing Rs400 million to upgrade Larkana Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy (LINAR) was approved. The revised Kachhi Canal project costing Rs57 billion, which will irrigate 100‚000 acres of land in Dera Bugti, and Dubair Khawar Hydropower Project costing Rs27 billion were also approved.
The planning minister directed the Ministry of Water and Power and the Water and Power Development Authority chairman to set up an expert advisory group to help provinces develop small hydroelectric power projects.
He asked the water and power ministry to swiftly frame an investment policy to encourage the private sector to invest in small hydroelectric power projects. “We must promote private sector in the energy sector,” he said.
He directed the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) to develop key performance indicators to achieve the target of primary education‚ as 100% literacy was critical for Pakistan’s future.
He said knowledge‚ energy and infrastructure were critical for future development.
The government has recently inaugurated several important projects, including a nuclear power plant along the Karachi coastline. It has to tackle the energy crisis and revive economic growth.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2013.
Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.
COMMENTS (5)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1725612926-0/Tribune-Pic-(8)1725612926-0-165x106.webp "article")
@Dhaka: Good for you and your countrymen and i wish you and your govt more power if you think you are ahead of Pakistan.However learn to comment in the context of a subject for there is thin line between a troll and an opinionated person ;)
The ministry of Minister for Planning‚ Development and Reforms chairman Ahsan Iqbal, should also look into the reports of Keenjhar lake being getting polluted by the drainage of Nooriabad Industrial area. This is too serious a problem to be ignored. The catchment area of the lake is also getting polluted. Need to act soon as this lake supplies 70% requirement of water to Karachi.
This money is much below what we are investing in our infrastructure projects.We are much ahead of pakistan.
@The Failed Rebel:
Spot On Dude,
.....if & only if, PML-N negotiated Kala Bagh Dam to kick-start, people gonna reward him PML-N at least 2 terms to govern.
....Simply, there is not such scarcity of capital as such as scarcity of bold & positive decisions.
regards,
Finally, something good coming out of PML-N Government! Good job guys! I was deeply thwarted by all the negative measures. May Allah help all those who seek to help the weak. I still despise you though, PML-N, for what you do to my people. The IMF loan payments will default this project if we don't default on repayments. Hope we can back out of that deal.