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       ISLAMABAD: Days before the unveiling of the federal budget for the next fiscal year, the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Tuesday cleared a total of 10 new development projects at an estimated cost of Rs249 billion, mostly pertaining to PMLN’s trademark road sector in Punjab.

       Presided over by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, the second meeting of the CDWP within a week requested the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) to formally approve six projects worth Rs227.34bn and itself approved four other projects at an estimated cost of Rs21.83bn.

       On May 16, the CDWP also cleared 10 projects worth Rs143bn.

       The meeting approved a Rs7.5bn Expansion of Safe City, Islamabad project to be financed through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). Currently, 35pc of Islamabad is under surveillance through the Safe City project. After completion, all major areas, including roads, religious places, VVIP areas, state buildings, entry/exit, and other important points, will be covered.

       The existing project was planned to cover 13 police stations, which is now being expanded to 28 stations, to help Islamabad police monitor/surveillance the entire capital. An additional 3,655 cameras will be installed.

       The CDWP also approved the establishment of the National Centre for Quantum Computing (NCQC) for Rs3.32bn. It includes civil works, laboratories, equipment and licencing costs for Hub, UET Main Campus, GIKI, and NED Karachi, as well as human resource expenses. Another project, the Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) was recommended to Ecnec for approval at an estimated cost of Rs21.2bn.

       The CDWP cleared six projects in the transport and communication sector.

       A project related to the environment sector, IPF Component for Punjab Clean Air Programme (PCAP), worth Rs5.7bn, was approved by the CDWP. The foreign-funded project is aimed at addressing the severe air pollution crisis in Punjab through a multi-sectoral approach involving key sectors such as transport, environment, and agriculture through the introduction of electric buses and electric two- and three-wheelers, alongside the strengthening of vehicle inspection and certification systems, besides fuel testing labs.

       Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2025