The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Thursday cleared 12 development projects with a total cost of Rs 435.665 billion. The meeting, chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Ahsan Iqbal, approved six projects worth Rs 16.904 billion and recommended six major projects worth Rs 418.761 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for further consideration.
Power Sector Projects
Seven projects related to the power sector were approved, including:
- Supply, Installation, Testing & Commissioning of Asset Performance Management System (APMS) for 100kVA & 200kVA General Duty Distribution Transformers in SEPCO worth Rs 1,974.150 million.
- Same for QESCO worth Rs 4,093.470 million.
- Same for PESCO worth Rs 4,621 million.
- Capacity Building for Preparation and Implementation of the Boosting Energy Security through Transmission in Pakistan (BEST-PAK) Program worth Rs 1,424.800 million.
- Same for HAZECO worth Rs 1,900 million.
Two more power projects were recommended to ECNEC: Supply, Installation, Testing & Commissioning of APMS for LESCO worth Rs 24,065 million and Installation of Reactive Power Compensation Devices in NGC Network (Modified PC-I) worth Rs 194,951.070 million.
IT and Urban Development Projects
A project from the Government of Punjab, the Punjab Urban Land Systems Enhancement Project worth Rs 43,081.090 million, was referred to ECNEC. It is proposed to be financed through foreign funding from the World Bank. Another IT project, the Smart Islamabad Initiative (SII) – Phase I worth Rs 2,890.893 million, was approved.
Water and Sanitation Projects
A project for the Construction of Wastewater Treatment Plant at Babu Sabu, Lahore worth Rs 60,493.047 million was referred to ECNEC, proposed to be financed by AFD. Its objective is to safely treat sewage currently discharged untreated into the river. A revised project for the Construction of Jalalpur Irrigation Canal Project and its System worth Rs 64,095.614 million was recommended to ECNEC, implemented by the Government of Punjab with multiple funding sources. The ADB contributes 86.93% of the total cost (Rs 55,880.45 million), with $127.35 million already utilized and a remaining loan balance of $99.33 million. The Government of Punjab contributes 12.78% (Rs 8,215.16 million) towards taxes and duties, and farmers contribute a nominal 0.0029% (Rs 184.93 million) in kind.
Poverty Alleviation Project
A revised project under the special program titled Southern Punjab Poverty Alleviation Project (SPPAP) – IFAD Assisted worth Rs 32,075.132 million was recommended to ECNEC. Financing includes IFAD contributing Rs 29,662.93 million (USD 151.882 million), the Government of Punjab Rs 1,936.436 million, and beneficiaries contributing Rs 475.767 million.
