ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved 17 development projects worth Rs33 billion and recommended nine projects valued at Rs867 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval.
The meeting, chaired by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, saw the participation of key federal and provincial officials.
Among the energy sector projects approved was the “Supply of Gas to Localities within 5km Radius of Villages/Localities of Gas Producing Fields-SSGCL” valued at Rs1,093.439 million. This project aims to extend gas supply to local areas, enhancing energy access and infrastructure.
Another significant project, the “500 kV Matiari–Moro-Rahim Yar Khan Transmission Line” worth Rs188.563 billion, was recommended to ECNEC. This project, financed through a mix of NTDC equity, local debt, and foreign debt, involves constructing a 500 kV double circuit transmission line to improve power transmission from south to north Pakistan. The project includes the installation of transmission lines, shunt reactors, and line bays to address existing power transmission constraints.
The CDWP also approved the “National Agriculture Productivity Enhancement Programme” (Rs3,000 million) and the “Pakistan Model Agriculture Research Center” (Rs4,000 million), indicating a focus on boosting agricultural productivity.
In the transport and communication sector, the CDWP recommended the “Revised PC-1 Construction of Lahore-Sahiwal-Bahawalnagar Motorway” (Rs435.721 billion) and the “Construction of Chakdara-Chitral Road Project N-45 Section III Kalkatak Chitral” (Rs10.961 billion) to ECNEC for further consideration. These projects aim to enhance connectivity and reduce traffic congestion, stimulating economic growth and improving accessibility.
Additionally, the CDWP approved several projects in higher education, health, and mass media, including the “Establishment of National Institute of Intelligence and Security Studies at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad” (Rs1,969.005 million) and the “Quaid-i-Azam Health Tower Islamabad” (Rs15 billion), aiming to enhance educational infrastructure and healthcare services.
The meeting underscores the government’s commitment to advancing energy infrastructure, agriculture, transport, education, and health sectors through strategic investments.
