The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) met today under the chairmanship of the Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Ahsan Iqbal. The meeting reviewed and considered a range of development initiatives aimed at strengthening key sectors of the national economy and accelerating the government’s reform agenda.
During the meeting, the forum considered and approved seven development projects . Of these, four projects, worth Rs. 12.437 billion , were approved by the CDWP, while three major projects, with a cumulative worth of Rs. 240.537 billion , were recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for further consideration.
The meeting was attended by the Add. Secretary Planning, Chief Economist, VC PIDE, Members of the Planning Commission, Federal Secretaries, heads of Provincial Planning & Development Board Departments, and senior representatives from relevant federal ministries and provincial governments.
The agenda included projects from critical sectors including, Higher Education, Information Technology, Physical Planning & Housing. These projects are aligned with the government’s broader development vision and reform agenda under URAAN Pakistan, which focuses on strengthening human capital, modernizing governance, improving infrastructure, and promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
Four projects related to Higher Education sector presented in the meeting.
The first revised project, "Strengthening of the Women University of AJ&K Bagh," worth Rs. 2,550.538 million, was in-principle approved by the forum. While reviewing the project, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Ahsan Iqbal, constituted a committee comprising the Member Science & Technology, Member Infrastructure, and Chief PP&H for cost rationalization. He directed the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to prepare a comprehensive master plan and ensure that construction works are awarded only to pre-qualified, top-tier firms to maintain quality standards. Stressing prudent utilization of public funds, the Minister said that every rupee of taxpayers' money must be spent transparently and efficiently, with a robust oversight mechanism in place. He directed HEC to prepare a panel of qualified Class-A contractors for universities to undertake development projects. The Minister further instructed that all revised project proposals must include photographic evidence of work completed under the previously approved cost. He also directed HEC to appoint Project Directors strictly on the basis of relevant qualifications, expertise, and professional experience to ensure effective project implementation.
The second project presented by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), " Provision of Academic Facilities at Emerson University, Multan," worth Rs. 1,044.286 million , was approved by the forum, subject to rationalization of the project cost.
The third revised project presented by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), " Establishment of Hyderabad Institute for Technology and Management Sciences," costing Rs. 4,559.289 million , was approved by the forum. The Deputy Chairman Planning Commission directed HEC to increase the number of buses from two to six through internal adjustment within the approved cost. He further directed that the endowment fund be removed from the revised PC-I, while the operational cost should remain as approved in the original PC-I.
The forth revised project of the HEC presented in the meeting namely “Strengthening of KBCMA CVAS” worth Rs. 5494 million rationalized to worth Rs. 4283 million was approved by the forum.
The revised project of the Information Technology sector, "Establishment of Pakistan Space Centre (PSC)," sponsored by SUPARCO, worth Rs. 37,130.518 million, was considered by the forum and referred to ECNEC for further consideration. The forum also considered the project "Pakistan Space Centre (PSC)", which aims to establish the country's indigenous capability for the design, assembly, integration, testing, and qualification of satellites, reducing reliance on foreign facilities. The Minister said that the project is a key component of the National Space Program (NSP)-2047 and is expected to strengthen Pakistan's self-reliance in space technology by enabling the cost-effective development of satellites to meet the country's strategic, scientific, and socio-economic requirements.
A revised projects of the Punjab government related to Physical Planning & Housing sector presented in the meeting namely “Lahore Water and Waste Water Management Project Construction of Surfacewater Treatment Plant at BRBD Canal Lahore (Lahore Water supply Project)” worth Rs. 31591.959 million referred to the ECNEC for further consideration. The project includes the construction of twin 3-km raw water pipelines, a 54 MGD Surface Water Treatment Plant, raw water tank and pumping station, flocculation and sedimentation tanks, gravity sand filters, treated water storage tank, chlorination building, sludge management facilities, drainage infrastructure, and a 4.5-km transmission main. It also covers the establishment of district metered areas and zones to reduce non-revenue water, installation of feeder mains and water distribution pipelines, bulk flow and consumer water meters, a SCADA system, a 5 MW solar power system, environmental and social safeguard measures, and one year of post-completion operation and maintenance. While reviewing the project, the forum directed the Planning & Development Board, Government of Punjab, to provide an undertaking ensuring the allocation of the required annual funding for the project through the Provincial Annual Development Programme (ADP).
Another revised project of the Ministry of Water & Resources presented in the meeting namely “ Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme (K-IV) 260 MGD (Phase-I)” worth Rs. 171814.464 million referred to ECNEC for further consideration. The project comprises the construction of an intake structure with a capacity of 650 MGD at Keenjhar Lake, an RCC gravity conduit for water transmission to pumping stations, a pumping complex with two pumping stations of 130 MGD each, a pressurized pipeline conveyance system, three water storage reservoirs, three water filtration plants, and associated infrastructure, including a project staff colony, access roads, and other allied works to ensure reliable water supply.
While reviewing the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, observed that the project is a vital public service initiative with far-reaching social and economic benefits for the people of Karachi. He said that Federal Government is investing a huge amount of funds for availability of safe and clean drinking water, improve public health and hygiene, reduce the financial burden on low-income households and to save them from expensive water tanker mafia.
The Minister directed the Government of Sindh to submit, at the earliest, a comprehensive report on the synchronization of all critical project components, particularly the completion timelines for the 50 MW power supply and distribution network augmentation, to ensure the timely operationalization of the project.
