The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) of the Planning Commission, scheduled to meet on March 18, is likely to approve 54 development projects, costing Rs 321.7 billion to improve infrastructure and social sector services delivery system. According to the agenda available with Business Recorder, the CDWP would take up 4 projects in energy sector, costing Rs 86.8 billion, for consideration.
A quick look at energy sector projects shows that not a single power generation project is going to be laid before the CDWP for approval as focus is on improving the efficiency of power distribution companies and laying the transmission lines. Water and Power Division has submitted 'Power Distribution Enhancement Project (Phase-II)' which will be instrumental in increasing the efficiency of all power distribution companies.
The Water and Power Division has submitted project '3rd 500 kv AES-Jamshoro-RY Khan & 500 kv moro-Dadu T/Lines along with 500 kv new Switching Stations at Moro & Matiari and Extension of 500 kv Substations' at a cost of over Rs 37856.81 million, including foreign exchange component (FEC) of Rs 18013.43 million. Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide financial assistance for this project.
The other two energy projects are: Addition of 500 & 220 Kv substations & T/Lines for strengthening the Existing NTDC system (500Kv Lahore New, 500 Kv Shikarpur, 220 Kv D.I Khan) worth Rs 24317 million, and 'Interconnection for Dispersal of Power from Barge-Mounted Karkey Rental Power Plant Phase-2 231.8 MW Anchored at Korangi Karachi' costing Rs 1008 million.
CDWP will consider 6 projects costing Rs 102.3 billion of Health Ministry. Health Ministry has submitted a project 'National Programme for Family Planning and Primary Health Care, The Lady Health workers programme Phase-2' costing Rs 53.4 billion. Health Ministry had modified 'Prime Minister Programme for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis (Prime Minister's Emergency Action on Hepatitis)' worth Rs 13.9 billion to attract the support of donor agencies.
Projects of Agriculture and Food Ministry on the agenda are: Indigenisation of Hybrid Seed Production Technology for Enhanced Production of Crops, Rs 665.313 million; Pak-China Co-operation for Agricultural Research and Development (Phase-II), Rs 1168.688 million; Pak-China National Project for CA and Advanced Ventilated Cold Storage, Rs 2229.200 million; Pak-China National Project for improved Rice processing, Rs 443.220 million; and Punjab Economic Opportunities Programme (PEOP) GS N.2288 (DFID), Rs 7530.000 million.
The projects of Forestry and Wildlife sector include: Introduction of Joint Forest Management (Integrated Natural Resource Management in NWFP, (Swiss grant), Rs 87.707 million; Culture, Sports and Tourism; Development and Beautification of Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh, Multan, Rs 483.298 million. Environment sector project is Development of Multi Hazards Early Warning Systems in Pakistan (PC-II) (JICA), Rs 348.00 million.
Education projects include Establishment of 1000 Primary Schools for Boys and Girls in NWFP on Need Basis, Rs 3625.139 million; Other projects are REKO DIQ Gold/ Copper Project (Balochistan), Rs 6698.700 million; Establishment of Facilities for Coal Cleaning, Coal Gasification and Coal Combustion (Position Paper), Rs 79.480 million; Pak-US Joint Fund for Science and Technology Co-operation Phase-II, Rs 207.351 million; National Electronics Complex of Pakistan (NECOP) (Chinese Funded), Rs 25500.000 million; 2x50 MW Power Plant from Syngas (IGCC 2009) Rs 8898.700 million; Establishment of Benazir Bhutto University, Benazirabad Sindh, Rs 1666.781 million; Establishment of NUST Teaching Hospital and School of Health Sciences at Sector H-12, Islamabad, 8249.092 million; Establishment of Grid Station at Sector H-12, NUST, Islamabad, Rs 408.970 million; M.Phil leading to Ph D Scholarship in Engineering, Natural & Basic Sciences/ Humanities/Social Sciences for the Teachers of Weaker Universities (Revised), Rs 612.979 million; USAID Support for Development of Higher Education, Rs 3780.000 million; 1000 Cuban Scholarships for Studies in Genera Comprehensive Medicine (Equivalent to MBBS) - HEC (Revised), Rs 1530.564 million; Correcting Approach of River Chenab to Control Erosive Action Along its Right Bank Opposite RD:0+000 M.Garh Flood Bund to RD:131+500 Khangarh Flood Bund in District Muzaffargarh, Rs 243.383 million; Constructing River Training Protection Works along Right side of River Indus (DownStream Ghazi Ghat Bridge to Goundh Jakhar Imam Din Shah District DG Khan), Rs 128.984 million; Six (6) Flood Dispersal Structures on Nan River (Phase-I-II) Balochistan, Rs 3318.174 million; Flood Management of Kirther Canal (IDA Loan) (Balochistan), Rs 99.118 million; Japanese Assisted Rural Roads Construction Project, Punjab (Phase-II) JICA, Rs 14830.163 million; JBIC Assisted Rural Road Construction Project, Phase-II, NWFP, Rs 6974.84 million; Preparatory (Feasibility) Study on Gilgit - Baltistan Sustainable Integrated Community Development Project (PC-II)/ (JICA Grant), Rs 93.50 million; Study for Lahore Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Improvement Project (PC-II) (JICA Grant), Rs 161.00 million; Sewerage Scheme for Middle Zone (Kimi Jamandan) Multan, Rs 67.923 million;Water Supply Scheme for Northern Zone (Bosan Road New Multan Nawabpur Road) WASA, Multan; Rs 768.991 million; Water Supply System for Southern Zone (Vahari Road Aziz Hotel Chowk), WASA Multan, Rs 621.000 million; Provision of Machinery for over load Disposal Station WASA, Multan, Rs 295.945 million; Urban Water Supply Scheme Nawabshah Phase-V (Filtration) Revised, Rs 1637.612 million; Reconstruction of Rehman Baba's Shrine at Hazar Khawani, Peshawar, Rs 39.241 million.