PESHAWAR: The Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) in its meeting on Thursday approved 14 projects with the cost of Rs34.14 billion.

A statement issued here said the online meeting of the forum was chaired by additional chief secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan and attended by officials of the relevant departments.

It said the forum considered 17 schemes of local government, urban development, multi-sectoral development, industries, higher education, elementary and secondary education, water, social welfare and home sectors.

It approved construction of 11 small dams in different parts of the province at the cost of Rs27 billion.

The statement said a revised scheme of PSDP was also cleared by the forum while three schemes were deferred due to deficiencies in project documents and were returned to the respective department for rectification.

The forum approved special integrated area development package for South Waziristan at the cost of Rs2.1 billion.

It also approved landscaping/urban forestry plantation, green belts at motorway, N-5, GT and Jamrud and Ring roads approved under the Peshawar Beautification Plan at the cost of Rs39.63 million.

The forum okayed a scheme to strengthen village and neighbourhood councils in merged districts, which would cost Rs242.61 million. It also approved construction of water channel in Kohat and improvement of Hangu-Thall road.