The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) of the Planning Commission scheduled to meet on Thursday (April 7) is likely to approve and recommend 74 development projects costing Rs 262.45 billion. The CDWP is empowered to approve projects costing one billion rupees and recommend the projects over one billion rupees to the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) for approval.
The Planning Commission body is going to approve new projects despite Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) serious concerns to this effect. Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chaired by Nisar Ali Khan had also recommended continuation of the on-going projects and directed that approval of new projects by the CDWP be stopped. The Prime Minister Inspection Commission (PMIC) had also raised serious concern over the approval of new projects and emphasised focus on the on-going projects.
According to agenda of the CDWP available with Business Recorder, only eight projects out of 74 relate to reconstruction and rebuilding of flood-hit areas. In water sector, six projects costing over Rs 47 billion will be tabled for approval. The Water and Power Division is seeking approval of Lower Ban Doab Canal Improvement Project (Revised) costing Rs 29.8 billion and another Punjab Irrigation System Improvement Project costing Rs 9.2 billion.
Other projects in water sector include: Construction of Flood Management Structure, Tank (KPK); Rehabilitation I Restructuring of Akra Kaur Dam, Balochistan; Protection of Dams and Shores of Pasni and other Coastal Towns, of Balochistan; Rehabilitation/ Reconstruction of Flood Damages in Balochistan Sector Irrigation and Power; and Construction of Flood Protective Works in Gilgit-Baltistan.
In energy sector, the CDWP may approve and recommend 12 projects costing over Rs 62 billion. The ministry of petroleum is seeking approval of 'Natural Gas Efficiency Project' costing Rs 36.5 billion in a bid to reduce Unaccounted for Gas (UfG) of gas utilities. The other projects are; Allai Khwar Hydropower Project (121 MW) (Revised PC-I) costing Rs 13.13 billion; Rehabilitation and Modification Work of Steam Units Turbines 2x110 MW Unit No I & 2 TPS Guddu; Rehabilitation of Thermal Power Station Guddu Units 3&4 (Block-III); Inter-connection of Naudero Rental Power Plant (50 MW) with Hesco system and upgradation of 66 kV Naudero Grid Station to 132 kV, Hesco; Transmission Inter-connection for Dispersal of Power from Uch-Il Power Project, NTDC; 220 kV Sub-Station at Manshera NTDC; Rehabilitation of Thermal Power Station Muzaffargarh; 220 kV Grid Station at Dera Murad Jamali; Augmentation of 500 I 132 kV & 220/132 kV Transformers in NTDC System; Development of National Integrated Energy Modelling System of Pakistan (Revised PC-Il); and Post Flood Reconstruction/Restoration of Hydro Power Station in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Agriculture and Food: Establishment of Cool Chain System under NTCI Programme; National Programme for the Control and Prevention of Avian Influenza (Revised I Modified); Community Development Project for Rehabilitation of Salt Affected and Water logged Lands (Revised PC-I); Rehabilitation of Flood Affected Inland Fisheries Sector Naseerabad, Balochistan.
Forestry & Wildlife: Rehabilitation of damaged Forestry Infrastructure and Plantation in Flood Affected Jaffarabad and Musakhail Districts of Balochistan. Devolution & Area Development: Khyber Area Development Project (Position Paper) Information Technology: National Response Center for Cyber Crimes (NRCC) (Phase-II) Population Welfare: National Institute of Population Studies (NIPS) 2010-15.
Manpower: Short term Skill Development Training under PM Hunarmand Pakistan Programme; Strengthening of DAE mechanical & Architecture Department in Government College of Technology, Railway Road Lahore; Promoting Cluster- Based Skills Development in Punjab. (Concept Clearance).
Mass Media, Culture and Sports: PTV Centre, Multan; Digitalisation of Audio Archives of PBC under USAID; Replacement of 100kW medium Wave Transmitter Peshawar with 400 kW Medium wave Transmitter under USAID program; Upgradation of Lok Virsa Media Centre; Construction of Sports Complex at Sukkur.
Transport and Communications: Construction/ Up-gradation of Dirgi-Shabozai (N-70) to Taunsa (Layyah) Road (N 55) Road; Construction/Up gradation of Dirgi Shabozai (N-70) to Taunsa (N-55) Road (210 KM); Replacement of Three Break Down/ Rescue Cranes and Procurement of Five Sets Relief Train Equipment; Doubling of Track on ShahdraBagh to Faisalabad 2010-2013; Doubling of Track on Shahdra Bagh to Lalamusa (126KM) 2010-13; Track Rehabilitation on Khanpur - Lodhran Section; Doubling to Track from Khanewal to Raiwind; Establishment of an inland Container Terminal (ICT) I Dry Port of Pir Mukhtiar Water near Shershah Multan; Rehabilitation of 27 (HPGMU-30 Class Diesel Electric Locomotives.(Revised PC-I); Upgradation of Track from Quetta to Koh-i-Taftan Section (Concept Clearance); Trade & Transport Facilitation Project-II (Position Paper); Reconstruction/Restoration work of Roads, Bridges & Allied Road Structures due to Flood damages in Balochistan; Construction of 3 Lane Flyover at Malir Halt on Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi; Construction of 3 Lane Flyover at Maui No 15 on Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi; Construction of Road & Bridges In Gilgit- Baltistan
Industries & Commerce: Establishment of Apple & Other Fruits Processing Complex at Quetta; Peshawar Light Engineering Center (PLEC)), ADB Funding; Hyderabad Engineering Support Center (Hesco), ADB Funding; Light Engineering Upgradation Center (LEUC) for SMEs in Balochistan, ADB Funding; Establishment of Chromites Beneficiations Plant at Muslim Bagh District Qila Saifullah, Balochistan; Infrastructure Development of Industrial Estate, Larkana, President Directive.
Higher Education Commission: Strengthening of University of Peshawar Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa; Development of Infrastructure at Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences, Utthal Balochistan; Establishment of Air University Campus at Multan; 1000 Cuban Scholarships for Studies in General Comprehensive Medicine (Equivalent to MBBS) Revised-Position Paper; National Law University Position Paper; National Institute of Liver and Gastro Intestinal Diseases at Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi; Provision of Essential Facilities at COMSATS Institute of Information Technology Islamabad (Revised); Upgradation of University College of Engineering & Technology Mirpur into Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mirpur.