ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Tuesday cleared 26 development projects worth Rs275.56 billion.

These projects included two mega power projects of over 2200MW using imported LNG.

The meeting, presided over by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, formally approved 21 projects worth Rs52.524bn and recommended another five worth Rs223.039bn for formalapprovalbytheExecutiveCommittee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).

The CDWP cleared the five projects on technical grounds and recommended to Ecnec for their formal approval. This included project of 1000-1200MW Combined Cycle Power Plant at Haveli Bahadur Shah, District Jhang, for supply of additional power to national grid by using re-gasified liquefied natural gas instead of furnace oil or diesel for affordable production of power.

The cost of the project is Rs84.8bn and it willbe completed in two years.

Another 1000-1200MW combined cycle power plant at Balloki, District Kasur, will also be re-gasified liquefied natural gasbased project worth Rs84.823bn and will be completed in two years.

The meeting approved Rs20.756bn for a project envisaging widening and strengthening National Highway of around 33km long two-lane single carriageway of N-70 from Rakhi Gaaj to Bewata in the districts of Dera Gazi Khan and Lorallai.

The stretch, which is mountainous area and has curves, is the only problematic section on the 600km long road of east and west corridor between Multan and Quetta.

The project will be completed in three years by the executing agency.

The projects approved by the CDWP included Dentistry School, SZAB Medical University Islamabad at a cost of Rs1.346bn to be completed in three years. This school will be established within Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad, adjacent to the Burn Centre through link corridors.The meeting also approved Rs1.lbn project of Providing Academic and Allied Facilities to University of Swabi through construction of two academic blocks, one administration block and cafeteria on newlyacquired land by the university to facilitate 2,300 students of 11 departments.

Intheenergysector,themeetingapproved a project of 500KV Islamabad West sub-station which envisages installation of 500KV new grid station in Islamabad West, along with associated 500 and 220KV transmission lines. This will facilitate additional load demand of IESCO area and will provide relief to existing 500KV Rewat grid station.

The Rs6.9bn project will be completed in 42 months.

The project of 34.5MW Harpo Hydro Power Skardu will provide facilities for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity keeping in view the future requirements in Baltistan region. The cost of project is estimated at Rs9.522bn.

The project of Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building of Energy Wing in the Ministry of Planning and Development willenhance the existing planning capabilities of energy wing. It will transform existing energy information systems section into Pakistan integrated energy modelling system and develop strong data base and other tools required for planning capabilities of energy sector and hiring services of consultants.

The cost of this project is Rs160 million and will be completed in three years.

The meeting also approved Rs1.58bn Weather Surveillance Radar at Karachi to improve monitoring capacity of Pakistan Meteorological Department for tropical cyclones and enhance their forecasting capacity.

Integrated transit trade The project of Integrated Transit Trade management Systems (ITTMS) will address all those inadequacies that are hampering full capitalisation of transit trade potential of Pakistanbyincorporatingintegrated process ICT backbone. The integrated procedures provide a common IT platform for all the organisations.

Under this project, stateof-art border crossing complexes at Torkham, Chaman, Wagha, Karachi, etc., will be established to reduce dwell time for cargo clearance, monitor pilferage, ensure proper exit of outbound cargo and pave the way for one-window operation at national and regional levels.

The cost of project is Rs21.927bn which will be completed in three years.

The project of design and construction of bridge at Korang Nullah (Bani Gala) envisages construction of 500 feet long and 30 feet widebridge over river Korang having 2.5 feet footpath on both sides. It will also construct approach roads of length 540 feet and 30 feet width on both sides in district Islamabad at a cost of Rs135m within one year.

The project of up-gradation and renovation of railway stations envisages upgradation of 23 major railway stations throughout country.

The up-gradation implies renovation and improvement of waiting rooms, passenger platforms, public toilets, clean drinking water for passengers etc.

Pakistan Railways will be its executing agency and this Rs1,110 million project will be completed in 15 months.The project of Kolpur Construction Bypass envisages construction of 5.639km long and 14.6 meter wide and 4 lane dual carriageway bypass around Kolpur town on the N65 in the districts of Mastung, Kachhi and Bolan.

Thisprojectis Rs999mwhich will be completed in 30 months.

The project of Revitalisation of Historic Core of Multan City aims at regeneration of the economic activities in Multan at a cost of Rs251m.

National forensic agency The project of Establishment of National Forensic Agency in Islamabad will help enhance the capacity oflaw enforcement agencies through modern scientific tools, training and equipping them with latest criminal investigation technique and combat organised crime etc., at a cost of Rs1.461bn.

The Rs1.178bn project of Prime Minister`s Youth Skill Development Programme, Phase-II, to train 25,000 persons within a time span of six months, empower the local women economically, create skilled and entrepreneurial workforce for local and international market, increase employment opportunities, etc. The National Vocational and Technical Education Commission NAVTTC Islamabad will be its executing agency.