Islamabad: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Thursday approved seven development projects, including four schemes worth Rs12. 437 billion, while recommending three major projects with a cumulative cost of Rs240. 537 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final consideration.
The CDWP meeting, chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Professor Ahsan Iqbal, reviewed development initiatives in the higher education, information technology, and physical planning and housing sectors aimed at advancing the government’s reform agenda under the URAAN Pakistan programme, a news release said.
The meeting was attended by the Additional Secretary Planning, Chief Economist, Vice Chancellor of PIDE, members of the Planning Commission, federal secretaries, heads of provincial Planning and Development departments, and senior representatives of relevant ministries and provincial governments.
The forum approved four higher education projects with directions for cost rationalisation and improved governance.
The revised project, “Strengthening of the Women University of AJK, Bagh, ” costing Rs2. 551 billion, received in-principle approval. Ahsan Iqbal constituted a committee comprising the Member Science and Technology, Member Infrastructure, and Chief Physical Planning and Housing to rationalise the project cost.
He directed the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to prepare a comprehensive master plan and ensure that construction work is awarded only to pre-qualified top-tier firms.
Stressing transparency and accountability, the minister said every rupee of taxpayers’ money must be utilised efficiently under a robust oversight mechanism.
He also instructed HEC to develop a panel of qualified Class-A contractors for university development projects, include photographic evidence of previously completed work in all revised PC-Is, and appoint project directors strictly on merit based on qualifications, expertise, and professional experience.
The CDWP also approved the “Provision of Academic Facilities at Emerson University, Multan, ” worth Rs1. 044 billion, subject to rationalisation of the project cost.
Another revised project, “Establishment of Hyderabad Institute for Technology and Management Sciences, ” costing Rs4. 559 billion, was approved after the minister directed HEC to increase the number of buses from two to six through internal adjustment within the approved cost, remove the endowment fund from the revised PC-I, and retain operational costs as approved in the original PC-I.
The forum further approved the revised “Strengthening of KBCMA CVAS” project after reducing its cost from Rs5. 494 billion to Rs4. 283 billion.
In the information technology sector, the revised “Establishment of Pakistan Space Centre (PSC)” project, sponsored by SUPARCO and costing Rs37. 131 billion, was referred to ECNEC.
The project aims to establish Pakistan’s indigenous capability for the design, assembly, integration, testing, and qualification of satellites, reducing dependence on foreign facilities.
Ahsan Iqbal said the Pakistan Space Centre was a key component of the National Space Programme-2047 and would strengthen the country’s self-reliance in space technology by enabling cost-effective satellite development to meet strategic, scientific, and socio-economic needs.
The CDWP also referred to ECNEC the Punjab government’s revised Lahore Water and Wastewater Management Project – Construction of Surface Water Treatment Plant at BRBD Canal, Lahore, worth Rs31. 592 billion.
The project includes the construction of a 54 MGD surface water treatment plant, transmission pipelines, pumping stations, storage facilities, SCADA system, solar power generation, water distribution infrastructure, and other supporting facilities.
The forum directed the Punjab Planning and Development Board to provide an undertaking ensuring allocation of the required annual funding through the Provincial Annual Development Programme (ADP).
Another major project referred to ECNEC was the revised Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme (K-IV) 260 MGD (Phase-I), costing Rs171. 814 billion.
The project envisages the construction of an intake structure at Keenjhar Lake, gravity conduits, pumping stations, transmission pipelines, water reservoirs, filtration plants, staff colony, access roads, and allied infrastructure to ensure a reliable water supply to Karachi.
Reviewing the project, Ahsan Iqbal described it as a vital public service initiative with significant social and economic benefits for Karachi.
He said the federal government was investing substantial resources to ensure the availability of safe drinking water, improve public health and hygiene, and reduce the financial burden on low-income households by curbing dependence on the costly water tanker mafia.
The minister directed the Sindh government to submit, at the earliest, a comprehensive report on synchronising all critical project components, particularly the completion schedule for the 50 MW power supply and distribution network augmentation, to ensure the timely operationalisation of the scheme.