Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Chaired by Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, Central Development Working Party (CDWP) meeting on Saturday approved 13 projects worth Rs.36.18 billion and it recommended $ 7.2 billion ML-1 project to ECNEC for further approval and also recommended four projects worth Rs. 184 billion to ECNEC for consideration.
Secretary Planning Zafar Hasan, senior officials from Planning Commission and federal ministries/divisions also participated in the meeting while representatives from provincial governments participated through video conference. Projects related to Energy, Physical Planning & Housing, Science & Technology, Transport & Communications and Water Resources were presented in the meeting.
The CDWP referred US$ 7.2 billion ML-1 project to ECNEC for further approval. ML-1 starts from Karachi, passes through Kotri/Hyderabad, Rohri, Multan, Lahore, and Rawalpindi and terminates at Peshawar. The line is 1,872 km long, including the 55 km long Taxila – Havelian section and 91 km long Lodhran-Khanewal section.
The project envisages up-gradation of ML-1, establishment of a dry port near Havelian Railway Station; up gradation of Pakistan Railway Academy Walton in Lahore; passenger facilities development of important railway stations, including Karachi, Hyderabad and Rohri in Sindh province; Multan, Lahore and Rawalpindi in Punjab province; Nowshehra and Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Two projects related to Energy presented in the meeting. First project titled “Establishment of 132 kV Grid Station at Bin Qasim Industrial Park (BQIP)” worth Rs. 1493.10 million was approved in the meeting. The object of this project is to provide uninterrupted power supply at affordable rates to Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of Bin Qasim Industrial Park. Second project namely “Replacement of LT Bare Conductor with ABC Cable in Peshawar, Khyber and Bannu Circle” worth Rs. 2806.4 million also approved in the meeting.
Two projects related to Physical Planning and Housing was presented in the meeting. First project titled “Development of Ziarat Town, Baluchistan” worth Rs. 1180.09 million approved in the meeting. The project will focus on long term policies for planned development of the town keeping in view the current scenario and future requirements.
Two projects related to Science & Technology were presented in the meeting. First project titled “Establishment of University of Turbat Phase-11” worth Rs. 1456.14 million and second project namely “Provision of Missing Facilities at the University of Swabi New Campus Site” worth Rs. 1386.462 million both projects approved in CDWP meeting.