ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Tuesday cleared 16 development projects having an estimated cost of Rs259.68 billion.

The government intends to secure Rs200bn ($710 million) in the shape of foreign assistance for the projects.

Presided over by Ahsan Iqbal, the planning minister and deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, a meeting of the CDWP requested the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Eenec) to formally approve seven projects worth Rs232.28bn.

The CDWP itself approved nine projects with a total cost of Rs27.40bn.

Under the current financial rules approved by the National Economic Council (NEC), the CDWP is empowered to approve projects costing up to Rs7.5bn, while the projects of higher estimated costs are approved by Ecnec on re commendations of the CDWP after clearanceon technical grounds.

The CDWP meeting approved five projects in the education and training sectors, including a plan to expand the Danish School System to Shigar and Sultanabad Jutal (Gilgit-Baltistan) and Bhimber (Azad Kashmir) at a combined cost of Rs9bn.

The projects approved by the CDWP included the construction of a cadet college in Kharan at cost of Rs2.945bn and Pak-USAID merit and need-based scholarship programme (Phase-II) worth Rs2.955bn.

Another Rs14bn education sector project, known as Prime Minister`s Pakistan Fund for Education (PakPEF), was referred to Ecnec for formal approval and inclusion in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

Under this initiative, the government will allocate Rs5bn annually to an endowment fund and the expected profits from the endowment will be utilised to provide scholarships.

The CDWP referred to Ecnec a governance-related project,`Enhancing Public-Private Partnership in Pakistan (provincial support) project for Sindh at an estimated cost of Rs27.8bn.

It will be financed through a combination of an ADB loan, FCDO grant, and the Sindh government`s share. The project is designed to enhance the provincial government`s capacity to improve identification of financially viable projeets, assessing non-solicited proposals, and boosting financial management practices.

The project will ensure transparent procurement processes, regular financial reporting and auditing while managing fiscal risks associated with PPPs.

It will establish a disciplined system for accessing the viability gap fund and manage contingent liabilities effectively. Additionally, the project will provide resources for pre-feasibility studies and transaction structuring to encourage private sector participation.

Sports academy The meeting approved the establishment of a sports academy, to beknown as `Arshad Nadeem/ Shehbaz Sharif High Performance Sports Academy, at the Islamabad Sports Complex at a cost of Rs2.679bn.

The project is part of a long-term athlete development programme (LTDAP). The academy will provide top-tier training facilities to 50 elite athletes across 10 sports disciplines, including athletics, boxing, judo, squash, taekwondo, shooting, weightlifting, wrestling, and table tennis. These athletes will also have the opportunity to continue their studies.

The meeting referred to the Ecnec a Rs53.7bn project envisaging construction of a wastewater treatment plant, with a capacity of 44 million gallons per day (MGD), in Faisalabad. The project involves over Rs50bn in foreign aid.

The CDWP approved two projects in the physical planning and housing sector: an expo centre in Quetta at an estimated cost of Rs4.83bn and a project to develop the infrastructure of Islamabad Techno Polis at a cost of Rs1.99bn.

The meeting referred to Ecnec aproject to build a 220kV transmission network in Islamabad and Burhan at a cost of Rs11.316bn.

The project aims to enhance the capacity of the NTDC transmission system and eliminate transmission constraints in dispersal of generation from Tarbela dam`s fifth extension.

The CDWP referred to the Ecnec for approval a Rs88.4bn flood emergency rehabilitation programme in Sindh.

More than Rs80bn would come from a combination of foreign funding sources. The government of Sindh will contribute 10pc of the financing through its Annual Development Programme (ADP), while the World Bank is expected to provide 90pc of the funding, includingloans and grants.

The project aims to restore critical infrastructure and improve resilience in various districts of Sindh, focusing on road restoration, water supply rehabilitation, and strengthening food security and sustainable livelihoods.

A proposal for dualisation of the Rawalpindi-Kahuta road wasreferred to Ecnec for approval. The project will dualise, rehabilitate, and improve a 28km road from Sihala to Kahuta, expanding it into a four-lane dual carriageway connecting Rawalpindi to Azad Kashmir.

The route is used by strategic and defence organisations.

Karachi`s Green Line The Executive Committee of the NationalEconomicCouncilreceived a proposal for installation of `integrated intelligent transport equipment` for Karachi`s Green Line bus service at an estimated cost of Rs13.5bn.

A 21km infrastructure from Surjani to Numaish is already in place since 2022. The new project proposes acquisition of 80 articulated diesel hybrid air-conditioned buses, each with a capacity of 150 passengers.

The equipment to be procured will include an automatic fare collection system, a system for fleet management, a command and control centre, real time passenger information system and a communication network.referred to Ecnec for approval. The project will dualise, rehabilitate, and improve a 28km road from Sihala to Kahuta, expanding it into a four-lane dual carriageway connecting Rawalpindi to Azad Kashmir.

The route is used by strategic and defence organisations.

Karachi`s Green Line The Executive Committee of the NationalEconomicCouncilreceived a proposal for installation of `integrated intelligent transport equipment` for Karachi`s Green Line bus service at an estimated cost of Rs13.5bn.

A 21km infrastructure from Surjani to Numaish is already in place since 2022. The new project proposes acquisition of 80 articulated diesel hybrid air-conditioned buses, each with a capacity of 150 passengers.

The equipment to be procured will include an automatic fare collection system, a system for fleet management, a command and control centre, real time passenger information system and a communication network.