ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) approved development projects worth over Rs 130 billion including a China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Scheme ‘Revival of Karachi Circular Railway’ and a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government’s Peshawar Sustainable Bus Rapid Transit Corridor Project.
The meeting of CDWP was held here under the chairmanship of Minister for Planning, Development & Reform Ahsan Iqbal.
The CDWP also recommended 7 mega projects in Energy, Transport Communication, Water Resources and Manpower Sectors to Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval. The CDWP also accorded concept clearance to two projects including construction of Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway (M6) worth Rs 238 billion and Sindh Renewable Energy Development Project (SREDP) worth $122 million.
Furthermore, CDWP reviewed two position papers of ongoing project in education and water resources sector worth Rs 64 billion. In transport and communication sector, CDWP recommended 04 megaprojects of worth Rs 102 billion to ECNEC.
The forum approved Revival of Karachi Circular Railway worth Rs 27.6 billion, a project included in the CPEC framework during 6th JCC in Beiging, China.
The project proposed by Sindh Government, envisages revival and construction of 43.2 km double railway track with 24 stations and procurement of 162 locomotos.
The project ridership is estimated at 550,000 passengers per day in the opening year with projected demand of 749,541 till 2030. On the occasion, Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reform Ahsan Iqbal advised the Sindh Government to coordinate with Punjab, in order to get benefits of its experiences in constructing Orange Line Metro.
“Cost of the project be rationalized and conditions of the foreign loans must be negotiated properly” Minister instructed. He also advised that the stations and other building to be constructed under this mega project must match the historical architecture of Karachi to ensure beautification of this port city”.
CDWP also approved a Rs 56.8 billion Peshawar Sustainable Bus Rapid Transit Corridor Project of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government. The project, planned to be constructed with 48 billion loan of Asian Development Bank, envisages construction of 25.8 km long road track, 32 stations with commercial building and other allied facilities. The project planned to be executed in 12 months is expected to facilitate 472,000 people per day in initial phase.
Iqbal instructed the officials of the provincial government to ensure constructions of station and other building, aligned with the historical architecture of Peshawar.
He also advised to allot separate enclosures for women and prayer spaces on the stations. The Minister further expressed satisfaction over Pakistan’s metropolitan cities desire for adopting mass transit system. He highlighted that rail based mass transit systems are being implemented in all the provincial headquarters under CPEC. He instructed for formation of a joint forum where provincial governments could share its knowledge and experiences of developing urban transport system.
CDWP also approved a world bank financed Karachi neighbourhood Improvement Project (KNIP) worth Rs 10.5 billion. The project proposed by Sindh Government envisages improvement of roads, parks, government buildings and citizen services in the commercial hub of Pakistan.
The Planning body also approved the Rs 7 billion project of construction of 4 -Lane Bridge across River Indus connecting Kallur Kot Bhakkar with Dhakki area of Dera Ismail Khan.
Ahsan Iqbal instructed that the 14 km approach road to the bridge would be constructed by the Government of Punjb.
In energy sector, CDWP approved 30 MW Hydro Power Project Ghowari in Gilgat Biltistan with stimated cost of Rs 7.9 billion. Moreover, CDWP approved 6 projects worth 6.6 billion in water resource sector.
The projects include construction of three dams in Pashin and Lorlai areas of Balochistan. This forum also recommended Raising of Baran Dam Project worth Rs 5 billion to Ecnec.
CDWP also approved a project in Manpower sector, titled ‘Prime Minister’s Youth Skill Development Programme (Phase-IV) 2017-18’ with estimated cost of Rs 6 billion.
In this sector, CDWP approved Construction of Boundary wall of Zoo – Cum – Botanical Garden, Islamabad with a cost of Rs 109 million. Ahsan instructed to implement the project as per Prime Minister instruction.
CDWP approved three projects in education sector worth Rs 3.16 billion, including Establishment of National Facility for Laboratory Animal Research and Care (NFLACR) at PCMD, Enhancement of the Research Facilities at University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Ravi Campus Pattoki (Revised) and Schools and College Curriculum Development.
In agriculture sector, this planning body has approved a project of Strengthening/Up-gradation of Agriculture and Livestock Research System of Arid Zone Research Institute, Umerkot-Sindh with estimated cost of Rs 643 million.
The project of Mainstreaming Acceleration and Policy Support (MAPS) for Balochistan Sustainable Development Goals, worth Rs 500 million was approved by CDWP.
The forum also reviewed two position papers in education and water resources sectors. It includes Extension of Right Bank Outfall Drain from Sehwan to Sea at Gharo (RBOD-II) (2nd Revised with estimated cost of Rs 61.6 billion.
