Central Development Working Party refers 3 KP infrastructure projects worth Rs100bn to Ecnec

On Monday, the federal government approved three major infrastructure projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sending them to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for formal approval. These projects totaled Rs100 billion. The recommendation came from the Central Development Working Party (CDWP), presided over by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal.

Iqbal highlighted the government's commitment to the province's development. The CDWP also approved eleven other projects across Pakistan, totaling nearly Rs126.50 billion, including a Rs85.34 billion mega project in Punjab. This marked a total of 14 projects cleared by the CDWP, with an estimated cost of Rs226.48 billion. Of these, ten smaller projects were approved directly by the CDWP, while four larger projects were referred to Ecnec for formal approval.

Two mega projects in water resources and agriculture, totaling around $550 million, would unlock approximately $460 million in foreign loans from the Asian Development Bank. These projects would focus on climate-resilient infrastructure and water security. The meeting also cleared a Rs13.32 billion Prime Minister’s Solar Scheme for Newly Merged Districts to provide off-grid solar energy solutions.

In transport and communications, a project for the improvement and widening of the Chakdara-Timergara section of N-45 was recommended to Ecnec, valued at Rs17.01 billion. The CDWP also approved several projects in education and higher education, including three educational initiatives and four youth development programs.