Islamabad: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP), chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Ahsan Iqbal, convened today and cleared eight major development projects spanning critical sectors of the national economy.
During the meeting, four projects worth Rs. 10.551 billion were approved, while four mega projects totaling Rs. 256 billion were recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Planning Awais Manzur Sumra, the Vice Chancellor of PIDE, the Chief Economist, members of the Planning Commission, Federal Secretaries, provincial planning representatives, and officials from relevant ministries.
The agenda featured projects from Education and Training, Health, Transport and Communications, Water Resources, Power, and Area Development sectors.
In the Education and Training sector, the CDWP recommended the revised 'Prime Minister's Pakistan Fund for Education' valued at Rs. 14 billion to ECNEC. Minister Ahsan Iqbal emphasized returning the project to its original purpose-providing scholarships and Qarz-e-Hasna to talented yet needy students in critical fields such as IT, AI, science, development economics, water resources, and mining.
The revised project 'Construction of Graduate Block in NCA Lahore' worth Rs. 1.607 billion was also approved to support expansion of Pakistan's premier art education institution.
In the Health sector, the expansion of AFIC-NIHD Rawalpindi worth Rs. 12.948 billion was recommended to ECNEC, with directions to explore alternative financing due to PSDP constraints. The revised 'Punjab Family Planning Program' worth Rs. 4.282 billion was approved, with the Minister urging provinces to fulfill devolved responsibilities and warning that Pakistan's weak social indicators and high population growth rate of 2.55% demand urgent, results-driven interventions.
In Transport and Communications, the revised 'Karachi Urban Mobility Project (Yellow BRT Corridor)' costing Rs. 178.592 billion was recommended to ECNEC. The Minister expressed concern over six years of stalled progress and directed revision of the Cost Sharing Ratio for ECNEC submission.
In Water Resources, the 'Project Readiness Financing (PRF) for Punjab Water Resources Management' worth Rs. 1.673 billion, financed jointly by ADB and the Government of Punjab, was approved to strengthen water governance.
The CDWP also approved the 'Hosting Community Support Program (HCSP)' worth Rs. 2.988 billion, focusing on solarizing schools and healthcare facilities in Gilgit-Baltistan and other regions. Meanwhile, a revised project for upgrading NTDC's Telecommunications and SCADA System worth Rs. 50.374 billion was recommended to ECNEC.
Minister Ahsan Iqbal reiterated that public funds come from taxpayers and emphasized strict accountability to ensure every rupee is used responsibly and efficiently for national progress.