CDWP defers two significant projects

Clears power station in Faisalabad at reduced cost.

ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Tuesday cleared a project to setup a power station in Faisalabad at a reduced cost of Rs9.4 billion aimed at better managing load in the third populous city of the country.

Headed by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, the body also recommended Balochistan Education Project worth Rs3.6 billion to Executive Committee of National Economic Council for final approval. The ECNEC will also take up 500kv substation Faisalabad for final approval.

The Ministry of Water and Power had proposed establishing the substation at a cost of Rs11.1 billion. However, the energy wing of the Planning Commission made 15% saving and cut the cost down to Rs9.4 billion.

The CDWP approved Archaeology Community Tourism Field School Project phase II worth Rs52.5 million. To establish Seerat Chairs in Public sector universities, a Rs192-million scheme was also approved.

For strengthening academic facilities, a sum worth Rs712.6 million was approved for Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur, and Rs843.2 million for Agricultural Engineering and Women Development Programme. Another project worth Rs980.3 million was sanctioned for the enhancement of research facilities at University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences Pattoki.

The CDWP, however, deferred two important projects including the Rs22.6-billion transmission line scheme for dispersal of power from Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project for the next meeting. The 969 megawatts project is said to be ready for power generation before end of 2017.

Another important project; the revised PC-I of Lowari Tunnel and Access Roads worth Rs16.9 billion was also deferred and iIt was decided that the Planning Minister would first visit the site of the project before sanctioning it.

The scheme had been conceived in 1975 and civil work on the project commenced in 2005.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th,  2015.

Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.