CDWP approves seven uplift projects worth Rs252.97bn
ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Thursday approved seven development projects costing Rs252.974 billion, including four projects worth Rs12.437 billion, while recommending three major schemes valued at Rs240.537 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval.
The meeting, chaired by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, considered projects relating to higher education, information technology, physical planning and housing, with a focus on infrastructure development and institutional capacity building.
Four higher education projects submitted by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) were approved.
The revised project for the Strengthening of Women University of AJ&K Bagh, costing Rs2.551 billion, was approved in principle, subject to cost rationalisation.
The CDWP constituted a committee comprising members of Science and Technology, Infrastructure and Chief Physical Planning and Housing to review the project cost.
Iqbal directed the HEC to prepare comprehensive master plans for universities and ensure that construction work was awarded only to pre-qualified top-tier firms.
He also directed that revised project proposals include photographic evidence of work completed under previously approved costs and that project directors be appointed on the basis of qualifications, expertise and relevant experience.
The Provision of Academic Facilities at Emerson University Multan, costing Rs1.044 billion, was approved subject to rationalisation of costs.
The revised Establishment of Hyderabad Institute for Technology and Management Sciences project, costing Rs4.56 billion, was also approved.
The HEC was directed to increase the number of buses from two to six through internal adjustments within the approved cost, remove the endowment fund from the revised PC-I and retain operational costs as approved in the original plan.
The fourth higher education project, Strengthening of KBCMA College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, was approved after its cost was reduced from Rs5.494 billion to Rs4.283 billion.
The CDWP referred the Rs37.131 billion revised Establishment of Pakistan Space Centre (PSC) project, sponsored by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco), to ECNEC for consideration.
The project aims to develop Pakistan’s indigenous capability for satellite design, assembly, integration, testing and qualification, reducing dependence on foreign facilities.
The project is part of the National Space Programme-2047 and is expected to support the development of satellites for strategic, scientific and socio-economic requirements, according to officials.
Another project sent to ECNEC was the Punjab government’s Rs31.592 billion Lahore Water and Waste Water Management Project, which includes construction of a surface water treatment plant at BRBD Canal.
The project includes twin three-kilometre raw water pipelines, a 54 MGD treatment plant, pumping stations, filtration facilities, treated water storage tanks, sludge management systems, drainage infrastructure and a 4.5km transmission main.
It also includes measures to reduce non-revenue water through district metered areas, feeder mains, distribution pipelines, bulk flow and consumer meters, a SCADA system, a 5MW solar power facility and environmental safeguards.
The CDWP directed the Punjab Planning and Development Board to provide an undertaking regarding annual funding requirements through the provincial Annual Development Programme.
The Rs171.814 billion Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme (K-IV), Phase-I, was also referred to ECNEC. The project involves construction of a 650 MGD intake structure at Keenjhar Lake, an RCC gravity conduit, pumping stations, pressurised transmission pipelines, three water storage reservoirs, three filtration plants and allied infrastructure.
While reviewing the project, Iqbal said the scheme was vital for providing safe drinking water to Karachi and improving public health.
He said federal investment in the project would help reduce the financial burden on low-income households and dependence on private water tankers.
The minister directed the Sindh government to submit an early report on the synchronisation of critical project components, particularly the completion timeline for the 50MW power supply and distribution network augmentation required for timely operation of the scheme.