The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved eight major projects worth Rs 25.19 billion. Additionally, it recommended a Rs 10.67 billion hydropower project in Gilgit-Baltistan to ECNEC for final approval. These decisions were made in a meeting chaired by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, aiming to boost growth in energy, education, transport, and IT sectors.
One major agriculture project approved is worth Rs 990 million. It will create a platform for speed breeding climate-smart hybrid crops. This initiative will help develop crops that resist extreme weather, ensuring better food security in the face of climate change.
In education, the CDWP approved Rs 3.53 billion for the Dr. A.Q. Khan Institute of Materials & Emerging Sciences at Quaid-e-Azam University. The project will receive technical support from the University of Cambridge and will focus on advanced science and technology fields.
Moreover, a Rs 3.04 billion IT project will digitalize the Federal Public Service Commission’s (FPSC) examination system. Another Rs 3.38 billion was approved for an emerging technologies center under NILOP-PIEAS. These projects align with the government’s Digital Pakistan plan to improve governance and tech capabilities.
In the transport and energy sectors, several road projects and the 16 MW Nalter-III Hydropower Project were highlighted. The energy project aims to enhance electricity access in Gilgit-Baltistan, while road expansions will support regional trade and movement. The committee also supported a World Bank-funded education reform project for Islamabad, setting a model for other provinces.