The CDWP approved as many as 7 mega projects in energy, transport communication, water resources and manpower sectors and recommended to Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) for their final approval. The CDWP also accorded concept clearance to two projects including construction of Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway (M6) at an estimated cost of Rs 238 billion and Sindh Renewable Energy Development Project (SREDP) at a cost of $ 22 million.
The CDWP also reviewed two position papers of ongoing project in education and water resources sector, worth Rs 64 billion. About transport and communication sector, the CDWP recommended 04 mega projects of at an estimated cost of Rs 102 billion to ECNEC.
The CDWP approved Revival of Karachi Circular Railway at an estimated cost of Rs 27.6 billion, a project included in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor framework during the 6th JCC held in Beijing, China, last year. The project proposed by the Sindh government envisages revival and construction of 43.2-km double railway track with 24 stations and procurement of 162 locomotives. On the occasion, Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reform Ahsan Iqbal advised the Sindh government to co-ordinate with Punjab in order to get benefits of its experience in constructing Orange Line Metro Train.
"The Cost of the project be rationalised and conditions of the foreign loans must be negotiated properly," the minister said. He also advised that the stations and other buildings to be constructed under this mega project must match the historical architecture of Karachi to ensure beautification of this port city. The CDWP also approved Peshawar Sustainable Bus Rapid Transit Corridor Project at an estimated cost of Rs 56.8 billion. The project, planned to be constructed with a Rs 48 billion Asian Development Bank loan envisages the construction of 25.8-km long road track, 32 stations with commercial buildings and other allied facilities. The project planned to be executed in 12 months is expected to facilitate 472,000 people per day in an initial phase.
Ahsan Iqbal also advised to allot separate enclosures for women and prayer spaces on the stations. He instructed for formation of a joint forum where provincial governments could share knowledge and experiences of developing urban transport system.
The CDWP also approved the World Bank-financed Karachi Neighbourhood Improvement Project (KNIP) at cost of 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 Rs 7 billion project of construction of a 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 Punjab. About energy sector, the CDWP approved 30MW hydro power project Ghowari in Gilgit-Baltistan with an estimated cost of Rs 7.9 billion.
About water resources, the CDWP approved 6 projects at a cost of Rs 6.6 billion. The projects include construction of three dams in Pashin and Loralai areas of Balochistan. The CDWP also recommended Raising of Baran Dam Project worth Rs 5 billion to ECNEC.
The CDWP also approved a project in manpower sector titled 'Prime Minister's Youth Skill Development Programme (Phase-IV) 2017-18 of Manpower' with an estimated cost of Rs 6 billion. About environment, the CDWP approved the construction of a boundary wall of Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden, Islamabad, valued at Rs 109 million.
About education, the CDWP approved three projects at an estimated cost of Rs 3.16 billion, establishment of National Facility for Laboratory Animal Research and Care (NFLARC) 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.
The CDWP has approved strengthening/up-gradation of agriculture and livestock research system of Arid Zone Research Institute, Umerkot, Sindh, with an estimated cost of Rs 643 million. The CDWP approved the project of Mainstreaming Acceleration and Policy Support (MAPS) for Balochistan Sustainable Development Goals at a cost of Rs 500 million for governance of Balochistan. The CDWP also reviewed two position papers in education and water resource sectors. It includes Extension of Right Bank Outfall Drain from Sehwan to Sea at Gharo (RBOD-II) (2nd Revised) with an estimated cost of Rs 61.6 billion.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017