The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved four development projects costing more than Rs12.4 billion.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal. Three major projects worth Rs240.5 billion, including the Pakistan Space Centre, K-IV and Lahore Water Supply projects, have been sent to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for final approval, according to the Ministry of Planning.
The approved projects include the capacity enhancement of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Women University Bagh, provision of educational facilities at the University of Multan and the Hyderabad Institute of Technology and Management Sciences project.
Ahsan Iqbal directed that construction work at the universities should only be carried out by quality companies. He stressed the need to ensure transparency in the use of public funds.
The Rs37.1 billion Pakistan Space Centre project has been forwarded to Ecnec. The meeting was informed that the centre would help develop local capacity for satellite preparation.
The Rs31.5 billion Lahore Water Supply project has also been moved to Ecnec. The project includes a water treatment plant with a capacity of 54 million gallons per day, pipelines and a distribution network in Lahore.
The Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme K-IV, with a capacity of 260 million gallons per day, has also been sent to Ecnec. The Ministry of Planning said the project would cost Rs171.8 billion.
The ministry said the purpose of the K-IV project was to provide clean water to Karachi. The project is expected to bring positive changes to the lives of Karachi residents.
The federal minister directed the Sindh government to complete key works of the K-IV project on time.
