Govt approves more than Rs71 billion for seven key development projects

WEB DESK: In a significant development, the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) met on Thursday, chaired by Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Dr Jahanzeb Khan.

During the meeting, the CDWP gave its seal of approval to seven pivotal development projects, totalling a substantial Rs71.8 billion. Of these, five projects with a combined budget of Rs11.7 billion were approved directly by the CDWP.

These projects cover diverse sectors such as climate change, health, education, energy, and road infrastructure development.

Approved projects

Notably, the approved projects include initiatives like “Strengthening Technical Capacities of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination” worth Rs316.71 million, “Establishment of the Directorate General of Religious Education (4th Revised)” worth Rs1,253.420 million, and “Installation of the Wide Area Monitoring System (WAMS) for the NTDC Power Network (Pilot Project)” worth Rs1,349.420 million, among others.

Additionally, the CDWP recommended two substantial projects, amounting to Rs60 billion, to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).

One of these projects, the “Refugees & Host Communities Regional Sub Windows SH Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Human Capital Investment Project (KP-HCIP) Education Component,” boasts a staggering budget of Rs33 billion.

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This initiative, backed by foreign financing, focuses on improving access to primary and secondary education, particularly for girls. Under this project, selected districts will witness the transformation of primary schools into middle schools, which will subsequently be upgraded to high schools, ensuring a comprehensive educational overhaul.

Furthermore, the CDWP endorsed a crucial project named “Peshawar Northern Bypass,” covering a vast expanse of 32.2 kilometres (3rd Revised PC-I) with a budget amounting to Rs27,051.680 million. The financing for this pivotal project is proposed through the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP).