The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved four projects worth Rs.16.02 billion while recommending one project worth Rs. 37.91 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). It also agreed on the ‘COVID-19 Responsive and Other Natural Calamities Control Program’ worth Rs. 70 billion.
CDWP’s meeting on Wednesday was chaired by Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, while projects related to physical planning and housing, health, education and Information Technology were presented at the meeting.
A project titled “Construction of Islamabad High Court Building at Islamabad (Revised)” worth Rs 5 billion was approved in the meeting. it aims at the construction of the Islamabad High Court on already acquired plots measuring 220000 square ft at sector G-5, Islamabad.
CDWP agreed with the recommendations of the committee for the project titled “COVID-19 Responsive and Other Natural Calamities Control Programme” with proposed changes. The PC-1 of this project will facilitate the national program to improve facilities at a 50: 50 basis financial support to all the provinces in district and tehsil headquarters. Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan will also be covered under the project financing.
Two education related projects were also presented in the meeting. The first project namely “Support to Basic Education Development Project AJ&K” was worth Rs 6 billion while the second titled “Basic Education for All Project AJ&K” was worth Rs 1.6 billion. Both were approved by CDWP.
A project related to Information Technology presented in the meeting worth Rs 38 billion was referred to ECNEC for further approval. The objective of the project is to provide an alternate path for international connectivity through the Northern border of Pakistan with China. It aims to provide continuous uninterrupted connectivity between the Northern and Southern borders of the country by establishing multiple rings for secure and uninterrupted communication network. The second project namely “Establishment of National Aerospace Science & Technology Park” worth Rs 3.5 billion was also approved in the meeting.
Two position papers titled “Establishment of Hub Special Economic Zone” and “Remodeling and Expansion of Karachi Expo Center”, worth Rs. 2.3 billion and Rs 2.7 billion respectively were also approved.
A water related project “Nai Gaj Dam” worth Rs. 46.5 billion was discussed at the meeting while the CDWP approved four Concept Clearance Proposals namely “Electricity Distribution Efficiency Improvement project” worth Rs 375.73 million , “National Firewall System” USD 100, “National Social Media Application” USD 145 and “Establishment of Pak-Korea nutrition Centre to improve Child and Community Nutrition” worth Rs 1.5 billion.
Additional Secretary Planning Abdul Aziz Uqaili and senior officials from the Planning Commission and Federal Ministries/Divisions also participated in the meeting. Representatives from provincial governments participated through video conference.
