The Central Development Working Party (CDWP), in a meeting chaired by the Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Ahsan Iqbal, approved 15 different development projects. Out of these, 6 projects with a total cost of Rs. 22.487 billion were approved at the CDWP level. And nine projects, amounting to Rs. 496.485 billion, were recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval.
\nThe meeting was attended by Awais Manzur Sumra, Secretary Planning, along with VC PIDE, other members of the Planning Commission, Federal Secretaries, heads of Provincial Planning & Development (P&D) boards\/ departments, and senior representatives from relevant Federal Ministries and Provincial Governments.
\nThe agenda focused on development projects across key sectors, including Education & Training, Health, Higher Education, Physical Planning & Housing, Social welfare, Special Areas (AJK & GB) and Transport & Communications.
\nFour projects related to Higher Education sector approved by the forum after detail discussion namely \u201cUplifting of Academic and Infrastructure Facilities at Hazara Universality, Mansehra\u201d with the revised cost of Rs. 2804.899 million, \u201cEstablishment of Women Sub-Campus at Batkhela, University of Malakand\u201d with the revised cost of Rs. 1341.873 million, Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships for Bangladesh, Central Asian and Friendly countries study in Pakistan (HEC)- New\u201d worth Rs. 6637.088 million and Hostels for UET Lahore and Sub-Campuses \u2013 New\u201d worth Rs.3357.095 million.
\nFederal Minister for Planning, Ahsan Iqbal, while reviewing Higher Education Commission projects, recalled that there was a time when a large number of international students came to Pakistan for higher studies, many of whom today serve as parliamentarians in their respective countries.
\nExpressing concern over the decline in foreign student admissions, he emphasized that Pakistan\u2019s universities still have the capacity to attract them and should offer more scholarships, particularly targeting students from Central Asia, Africa, and other Global South countries.
\nHe underscored that higher education is a form of soft power, and attracting at least ten thousand international students would not only enhance the country\u2019s goodwill and image abroad but also increase remittances.
\nThe Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission directed that a special meeting be convened to review the scholarships policy to encourage greater international enrollment.
\nA project related to Education & Training sector presented in the meeting namely \u201cSystem Transformation Grant (STG)-New\u201d worth Rs. 10605.111 million refereed to ECNEC for further consideration. Source of financing of the project is GPE Grant (World Bank). The project It aims to advance Pakistan\u2019s progress towards SDG 4 \u2014 inclusive and quality education \u2014 by improving access, retention, and quality in the school system.
\nA project related to Health sector presented in the meeting namely \u201cJinnah Medical Complex and Research Center (JMC&RC) previously Quaid-e-Azam Health Tower Islamabad-New\u201d worth Rs. 1429.150 million approved by the forum.
\nTwo project of Physical Planning & Housing sector presented in the meeting namely \u201cFlood Response Emergency Housing Project (Phase III) EIB\/GoS Financing\u201d worth Rs. 42090 million refereed to ECNEC for further consideration. The project is proposed to be financed through foreign funding of EIB. It aims to rebuild over 116,000 multi-hazard resilient homes for flood victims in Sindh and provide inclusive infrastructure for vulnerable groups.
\nAnother project of Physical Planning & Housing sector got the approval namely \u201cAJK Legislative Assembly Complex\u201d with the revised cost of 6917.11 million.
\nTwo projects related to Social Welfare sector presented in the meeting namely \u201cSindh Coastal Resilience Project (SCRP) \u2013 Livelihood AND Community Infrastructure \u2013 New\u201d worth Rs. 30915.227 million referred to ECNEC for further consideration. The project is proposed to be financed through foreign funding of IFAD.
\nThe Sindh Coastal Resilience Project (SCRP) \u2013 Livelihood and Community Infrastructure aims to promote inclusive and climate-resilient livelihoods for smallholder farmers, fisherfolk, and disadvantaged groups, including women, youth, and the landless, across 500 villages in Badin, Sujawal, and Thatta.
\nWhile discussing the project, the Deputy Chairman of the forum, Ahsan Iqbal, constituted the formation of a committee under the Secretary of Planning to conduct a detailed review of the project before submission to ECNEC, ensuring that all requirements highlighted by the CDWP forum are fully addressed.
\nAnother project of Social Welfare sector presented in the meeting namely \u201cKarachi Water & Sewerage Services Improvement Project(KWSSIP) Phase-II\u201d referred to the ECNEC with the revised cost of Rs. 185894.093 million. This WB-, AIIB-, and EIB-financed initiative will enhance Karachi\u2019s water and sewerage systems through infrastructure upgrades, institutional reforms, and capacity building.
\nWhile reviewing development projects in Sindh, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission and Federal Minister for Planning, Ahsan Iqbal, reaffirmed that Sindh\u2019s development initiatives remain a top priority for the federal government.
\nHe assured that the federation is fully committed to supporting the province and is making every possible effort to meet its development needs. During the meeting, the Minister emphasized the importance of expediting the implementation of ongoing projects to ensure timely benefits for the people of Sindh.
\nA project related to Special Areas of AJK & GB presented in the meeting namely \u201cConstruction of Road from Pissan to Hoper Nagar (40KM.) (Shahrah\u2013e\u2013Nagar)\u201d referred to the ECNEC with the revised cost of 13764.926 million.
\nAccording to the Revised PC-I of the Project, after completion, the road is to provide a reliable, all-weather, and safe transportation corridor spanning 40-kilometres through the scenic and strategically important Nagar Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan.
\nDuring the meeting The GB government was asked to share the land cost equally with the federal government on a 50:50 bases.
\nThe DCPC stated that the Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir remain key development priorities for the federal government, despite the prevailing fiscal constraints. Federal Minister for Planning, Ahsan Iqbal, reiterated the government\u2019s unwavering commitment to advancing projects in GB, AJK, and Sindh, ensuring that these regions receive the attention and resources they deserve. He directed the concerned authorities to accelerate the implementation of ongoing projects so that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir can benefit from them at the earliest.
\nFour projects related to Transport & Communications sector presented in the meeting namely \u201cDualization & Rehabilitation of DG Khan \u2013 DI Khan Section of N-55 as 4-Lane Highway (208.2KM) Package-2, Lot 3 & 4\u201d referred to ECNEC with the revised cost of 111940.070 million (86% ADB-financed & 14% PSDP share). According to the revised PC-I, the project will significantly contribute to the economic and social development of South Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by expanding the reach of its benefits to a larger population and transforming the transportation landscape of the region.
\nThe second project of T&C sector presented namely \u201cDualization & Rehabilitation of Rajanpur \u2013 DG Khan Section ofN-55 as 4-Lane Highway (121.50Km) Package-1, Lot 1&2\u201d referred to ECNEC with the revised cost of 63150.570 million (86% ADB-financed & 14% PSDP share).
\nAccording to the revised PC-I, the project will boost the economic and social development of South Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by transforming regional transportation, reducing travel time, and ensuring smooth movement of trade, goods, and passengers. Serving as a key business hub, it will enhance connectivity, stimulate economic growth, and improve the livelihoods of local communities.
\nThe third project of T&C sector presented in the forum namely \u201cDualization & Improvement of Old Bannu Road\u201d referred to the ECNEC with the revised cost of 24130 million.
\nThe project aims to enhance mobility in the underdeveloped areas of District Bannu by providing a vital link between Bannu, Sarai Naurang, and Waziristan, improving access to markets and economic opportunities for the local population. It will reduce travel time, improve road safety, lower vehicle operating costs, and offer congestion-free travel, while also creating positive impacts on land use, generating employment, and stimulating business activities to support sociolect-economic development in the region.
\nThe Minister expressed satisfaction over the progress on the Old Bannu Road, noting that the project, initiated during the previous PML-N government, is now nearing completion.
\nHe particularly urged the concerned authorities to expedite the remaining work and extend full facilitation to ensure there are no obstacles in its completion. The Minister reaffirmed that development projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are a high priority for the federal government, aimed at improving the quality of life for the people of the province.
\nThe fourth project of the T&C sector presented in the meeting namely \u201cConstruction of Black Top Road from Duki to Chamalang with Link Road\u201d (160 km)\u201d recommended to ECNEC for further consideration with the revised cost of 13994.701 million.
\nThe scope includes earthworks, pavement layers, bridges, culverts, embankment protection, RCC retaining walls, rest areas, drainage systems, road furniture, and utility shifting, as well as land and property compensation, ensuring durable infrastructure and improved connectivity for the region.
\nFederal Minister for Planning stated that the Federal government has allocated the largest-ever development budget in history \u2014 Rs. 200 billion \u2014 for road infrastructure in Balochistan this year. He urged the Balochistan government to take its own initiatives and allocate resources from its provincial budget for other projects. He noted that it has become increasingly challenging for the federal government to accommodate the development priorities of every province within a constrained budget.
\nThe Minister expressed hope that the next Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) would be significantly larger, enabling the federal government to fully meet the development aspirations of all province.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Central Development Working Party (CDWP), in a meeting chaired by the Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Ahsan Iqbal, approved 15 different development projects. Out of these, 6 projects with a total cost of Rs. 22.487 billion were approved at the CDWP level. And nine …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":85475,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85474"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85474\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":85476,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85474\/revisions\/85476"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/85475"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=85474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=85474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}