By Ayesha Saba

The Central Development Working Party reviewed and approved dozens of development initiatives during April 2026 as the government accelerated the implementation of public investment projects across education, health, infrastructure, governance, transport, and industrial sectors.

According to the Monthly Development Update, the CDWP considered 41 agenda items comprising 31 projects, five position papers, four concept clearance proposals, and one policy paper. Out of these, 23 projects, one policy paper, and four concept clearances were approved, while one project and two position papers were recommended to ECNEC.

The higher education sector received the largest share of approved funding. Nine higher education projects worth Rs24.81 billion were approved to strengthen academic infrastructure, research facilities, and scholarship programs.

 Major projects included Rs4.91 billion for strengthening the University of Narowal, Rs3.69 billion for establishing NUTECH Islamabad campus, Rs2.99 billion for Lasbela University infrastructure, and Rs2.75 billion for National Defence University’s FCS Campus.

The government also approved Rs2.35 billion for 1,640 scholarships for students from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir under the Prime Minister’s directives.

In the education sector, two Danish School projects worth Rs10.69 billion were approved, including establishment of Danish School in ICT Kuri costing Rs6.99 billion and another school in Tando Muhammad Khan Sindh worth Rs3.69 billion.

The Physical Planning and Housing sector received major allocations. Six projects worth Rs25.30 billion were approved, including Rs7.39 billion for Model Prison H-16 Islamabad, Rs4.5 billion for residences of Federal Constitutional Court judges, and Rs3.84 billion for establishment of FC Headquarters in Islamabad.

The transport sector also received significant attention. CDWP approved Rs7.46 billion for widening and rehabilitation of Islamabad Expressway service road from Faizabad to Gulberg and Rs2.29 billion for rehabilitation of railway track between Kotri and Akhondabad.

In the health sector, Sindh Health Support Program worth Rs2.26 billion was approved to strengthen primary healthcare systems, while an environmental project worth Rs1.41 billion was approved to establish air quality monitoring networks in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Sukkur.

The report stated that one major water resources project, Mazarani Dam in Sindh costing Rs16.88 billion, was recommended to ECNEC for approval to improve water storage and flood mitigation capacity.

The industrial sector also witnessed policy support as CDWP approved Rs3.60 billion for revitalization of Pakistan’s gemstone sector in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the Planning Ministry, these projects are expected to strengthen infrastructure, improve social services, generate employment, and enhance regional development. Authorities believe strategic public investment remains essential for stimulating economic activity and supporting long-term inclusive growth amid prevailing fiscal and external challenges.

Credit: INP-WealthPk