Ayesha Saba

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) approved ten development projects and referred six major schemes to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval during November 2025, according to the Monthly Development Update – December 2025 released by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives.

The Ministry’s report states that two CDWP meetings were held in November under the chairmanship of the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission. The forum reviewed a total of 36 agenda items submitted by federal ministries and provincial governments. These included 20 projects, six position papers, nine concept clearance proposals and one policy paper.

Out of the total agenda, the CDWP approved ten projects, two position papers, seven concept clearance proposals and one policy paper. Six major projects and four position papers were referred to ECNEC for consideration, while four projects and two concept papers were deferred for further deliberation.

In the education and training sector, a project costing Rs3,320 million was approved to expand access to quality education aligned with international standards, particularly for marginalised youth. In the environment sector, one project valued at Rs56,140 million was recommended to ECNEC to enhance community and infrastructure resilience against climate-induced flood risks.

The governance sector saw approval of an umbrella programme costing Rs5,432 million to improve access to high-quality consultancy services for federal ministries and agencies. In the health sector, a project worth Rs7,221 million was approved, while another significant project valued at USD2,424 million aimed at interrupting polio transmission in high-risk districts under the National Emergency Action Plan was recommended to ECNEC.

A project costing Rs1,930 million was approved in the higher education sector to expand advanced learning opportunities and strengthen institutions in Balochistan. In the information technology sector, a Rs6,645 million project was approved to enhance service accessibility of Pakistan Post through automation and to address the department’s financial deficit.

The physical planning and housing sector received approval for a feasibility study costing Rs4,836.72 million aimed at improving urban development and the quality of life in selected cities of Punjab. In the power sector, two projects totalling Rs11,381 million were approved to provide uninterrupted and affordable power supply to Bin Qasim Industrial Park and to support commercial viability.

In the transport and communications sector, two projects costing Rs7,812 million were approved, while three projects amounting to Rs3,416 million, along with four position papers, were recommended to ECNEC. The water resources sector included a project worth Rs15,654 million recommended to ECNEC for developing the Indus Amber and Janda Boka perennial irrigation systems through the Gandaf Tunnel from Tarbela Dam, targeting Swabi and Nowshera districts.

The report concludes that the approved and recommended projects are expected to support employment generation, infrastructure development, service delivery improvements and sectoral growth across the country.

Credit: INP-WealthPk