CDWP Clears Rs. 249 Billion in Development Projects for Tech, Education, Infrastructure, and Environment

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP), under the leadership of Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, has approved development projects worth Rs. 249 billion, signaling strong investment in Pakistan’s digital, educational, infrastructural, and environmental sectors. Of these, four projects totaling Rs. 21.83 billion were approved at the CDWP level, while six major schemes amounting to Rs. 227.34 billion have been referred to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval.

Key Sectoral Highlights:

• Information Technology:
  The “Expansion of Safe City, Islamabad (New)” project was approved at Rs. 7.499 billion. It aims to extend surveillance coverage citywide, raising the current 35% to 100%. The project involves installing 3,655 additional cameras, expanding coverage to 28 police stations, and deploying AI-driven systems such as facial recognition and Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).

• Higher Education:
  The “Establishment of National Center for Quantum Computing (NCQC)” was approved for Rs. 3.318 billion. This strategic initiative seeks to boost quantum research capacity through labs, international partnerships, training, and collaboration with leading universities like HUB, GIKI, UET Lahore, and NED Karachi.

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• Another significant project, “Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) – Revised,” worth Rs. 21.19 billion and funded by the World Bank, was referred to ECNEC. It focuses on upgrading governance, inclusivity, and industry linkages in higher education institutions, especially Affiliated Colleges.

• Transport and Communication:
  Several major road and infrastructure projects were presented:

  • Dualization of Sargodha–Khushab–Mianwali Road (Rs. 11.81 billion)

  • Controlled Access Corridor in Lahore (Rs. 10.84 billion)

  • Dualization of Gujranwala–M-2 Interchange via Hafizabad (Rs. 13.23 billion)

  • Dualization of Chishtian–Chak No. 46/3R Road (Rs. 14.86 billion, jointly funded)

  • Rehabilitation of Track Maintenance Machines (Rs. 5.31 billion, approved)

  • Reconstruction of National Highway N-5 (Rs. 155.4 billion), to be funded mainly by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), transforming it into a 6-lane climate-resilient corridor.

• Environment:
  The CDWP approved the “IPF Component for Punjab Clean Air Program (PCAP)” worth Rs. 5.7 billion. The program will introduce electric buses, upgrade vehicle inspection systems, enhance fuel testing, and increase community participation to curb air pollution in Punjab.

This portfolio reflects a strategic push towards modernizing public safety, digital infrastructure, environmental protection, and higher education—key pillars in Pakistan’s vision for sustainable development and national competitiveness.