The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Sunday approved three development projects totaling Rs11.714 billion, while referring two major initiatives valued at Rs48.545 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final endorsement.
Chaired by Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, the meeting reviewed five projects worth Rs60.259 billion under the government’s Uraan Pakistan vision. Among the approved projects was a Rs4.92 billion medical and nursing college in Gilgit city, designed to enhance healthcare access in remote and mountainous regions.
Minister Iqbal emphasized that expanding quality healthcare facilities in such areas remains a top government priority. Additionally, the CDWP sanctioned Rs2.75 billion for the Faculty of Contemporary Studies (FCS) Campus at the National Defence University.
Highlighting the role of higher education, Iqbal urged universities to align their research with Pakistan’s goal of achieving $100 billion in exports by 2035, underscoring their importance in the nation’s economic transformation.
Another approved project involves constructing the 53.4-kilometre Zera-Dabori Road in Orakzai district, with an allocation of Rs4.03 billion. The minister instructed authorities to release funds promptly to ensure the road’s completion before winter.
Meanwhile, the CDWP forwarded the Rs19.54 billion Karachi Neighbourhood Improvement Project to ECNEC for final approval. Similarly, a Rs29 billion water supply project to channel water from Mirani Dam to Gwadar was also sent to ECNEC.
In a significant development, the Gwadar water supply project was allowed to proceed to the tendering phase to expedite its implementation. Minister Iqbal directed officials to immediately initiate a study on treating surplus water in Gwadar, stressing the government’s commitment to preventing marine pollution.
“We will not permit the sea around Gwadar to be polluted with sewage water like Karachi,” he stated firmly, highlighting environmental concerns.
The meeting also mandated the creation of a committee to ensure effective utilization and transparency of foreign funding for development projects. This committee will enhance oversight of externally funded schemes, ensuring allocated resources are managed efficiently and transparently.
