ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) approved seven development projects for Rs 15.174 billion and recommended four major projects with a cumulative cost of Rs 108.16 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for further consideration and final approval. The CDWP met with Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Ahsan Iqbal, in the chair. 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. The meeting was attended by the Chief Economist, Vice Chancellor PIDE, Members of the Planning Commission, Federal Secretaries, heads of Provincial Planning & Development Departments, and senior representatives from relevant federal ministries and provincial governments. READ MORE: CDWP clears 8 uplift projects costing Rs226.55bn The agenda included projects from critical sectors, including Education & Training, Governance, Health, Higher Education, Information Technology, Physical Planning & Housing, Power, and Water. 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. Power Sector: Three projects related to the Power Sector were presented during the meeting. The first project, “Electricity Distribution Efficiency Improvement Project Hesco funded by the World Bank”, worth Rs 19.017 billion, was recommended to the Ecnec for further consideration. The project is proposed to be financed through World Bank funding of Rs 17.636 billion and Hesco’s own resources of Rs 1.381 billion. The second project, “Electricity Distribution Efficiency Improvement Project (Pesco)”, worth Rs 30.256 billion, was also recommended to the Ecnec. The project will be financed through World Bank funding of Rs 29.321 billion and Pesco’s own resources of Rs 934.73 million. Another project, “Hydropower and Renewable Energy-II, Gilgit-Baltistan”, worth Rs 3.781 billion, was approved by the forum. The project aims to promote clean energy and improve energy access in the region. Water Sector A revised project titled “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Irrigated Agriculture Improvement Project” worth Rs 50.956 billion was recommended to the Ecnec for further consideration. The project is proposed to be financed through World Bank funding of USD 171 million (80 percent of the total cost) and farmers’ contribution of 20 percent. The project includes rehabilitation and improvement of 14,260 community watercourses across KP, including merged districts, installation of high-efficiency irrigation systems (drip and sprinkler) on 11,650 acres, construction of 5,000 water storage tanks, provision of 500 laser land leveling units, and training and mobilization of 14,260 Water Users Associations (WUAs). Additional components include public awareness campaigns on water conservation, promotion of climate-smart agriculture, pilot demonstrations of modern irrigation technologies, and studies to support evidence-based policymaking in irrigated agriculture. Education Sector: During the meeting, a project titled “Establishment of Daanish School at Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Haveli-Kahuta)” worth Rs 4687.703 million was presented and approved by the forum, with special directions to rationalize the cost in accordance with the previously approved Daanish Schools PC-I. While discussing the project, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that expanding access to quality education in underserved areas is a key pillar of the PM’s vision under URAAN Pakistan, which places strong emphasis on human capital development and equal educational opportunities in underdeveloped regions. He directed the Ministry of Education to present a year-wise breakup and operating expenditure details of all Daanish Schools. Furthermore, the Ministry was instructed to share financial requirements for the operational budget with the Finance Division for the next year’s budget and the following three-year projections, ensuring complete visibility of future financial commitments related to these institutions so that project operations are smoothly carried out. Health Sector: Two revised projects related to the Health Sector were presented during the meeting. The first project, titled “Upgradation of DHQ Hospital District Hafizabad”, worth Rs 7931.330 million, was recommended to the ECNEC for further consideration. While discussing the proposal, Ahsan Iqbal observed that the project falls entirely within the provincial domain, as it is located in a major city of Punjab rather than in a remote or underserved area. He emphasized that such initiatives should ideally be financed by the provincial government, in line with constitutional responsibilities. The forum noted that the federal government has already extended financial support beyond its mandated share. It was therefore decided that any additional financial liability would be borne by the Government of Punjab, and the province would reimburse excess funds released by the Centre, ensuring adherence to fiscal discipline and constitutional division of responsibilities. The second health sector project titled “National Health Support Programme (KP Component)” worth Rs 1335 million was approved by the forum after detailed deliberations. While discussing the project, Ahsan Iqbal highlighted that strengthening the healthcare system is a core objective of the government’s URAAN Pakistan agenda, which prioritizes improved healthcare infrastructure, better access to medical services, and enhanced institutional capacity to serve citizens effectively. Higher Education Sector: A project titled “Prime Minister’s Scheme for Enabling Youth with Physical Challenges at HEIs through Electric Wheelchairs, Laptops for Blinds, Audio-Visual Aids – HEC” worth Rs 1846.410 million was presented and approved by the forum. The Minister directed the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to ensure that the facility is strictly extended to full-time enrolled students of public sector universities only, and not to private institutions or non-enrolled individuals, so that the targeted beneficiaries receive maximum support. Information Technology Sector: A revised project titled “Land Records Management Information System in the Rural Areas of ICT, Islamabad” worth Rs 185.691 million was presented and approved by the forum. While discussing the project, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Ahsan Iqbal highlighted that Information Technology is a key pillar of URAAN Pakistan, as well as a central component of the government’s 5Es framework under the E-Pakistan and Digital Transformation agenda. He emphasized that digitization of public services, particularly land records, will promote transparency, efficiency, and improved service delivery, while also strengthening governance and reducing administrative bottlenecks. Physical Planning & Housing Sector: Two projects related to Physical Planning & Housing were approved: “Construction of Admin Block of Supreme Court Branch Registry at Quetta – New” worth Rs 231.604 million; “Pakistan Audit & Accounts Academy (PAAA) Islamabad – Revised” worth Rs 3106.030 million. These initiatives are expected to strengthen institutional infrastructure and enhance governance capacity, contributing to improved public sector administration. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026