CDWP Approves Key Development Projects, Including Flood Response Housing and Health Initiatives

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) recently approved a significant package of development projects totaling Rs 559.766 billion. Among the approved projects was the Flood Response Emergency Housing Project Phase-I, valued at Rs 447 billion. This project, which is set to be financed by the World Bank, was recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for further approval.
The CDWP meeting, which was the first-ever paperless session, was chaired by Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives (PDSI) Ahsan Iqbal, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission. During this meeting, three projects totaling Rs 8.23 billion were approved, while four major projects worth Rs 551.536 billion were forwarded to ECNEC for further review.
The agenda of the meeting covered projects in various sectors, including health, manpower, physical planning and housing, transportation, and science and technology.
Key Approved Projects
Flood Response Emergency Housing Project Phase-I (2nd Revision)
This project, worth Rs 447 billion, focuses on providing support to flood-affected communities in Sindh province, following the catastrophic floods of 2022. The project aims to help affected residents rebuild their homes and restore critical infrastructure, including water supply systems, sanitation, drainage, roads, and street pavements. It also includes the construction of communal toilets and protection works, with the World Bank providing financing.
Health Sector Initiatives
Several health-related projects were approved or recommended for further consideration:
Improvement of Maternal and Child Health Equipment in flood-affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, valued at Rs 3.15 billion, was approved.
Prime Minister’s Program for the Elimination of Hepatitis C (Rs 67.77 billion) was recommended to ECNEC. This ambitious initiative aims to screen, test, and treat 50% of Pakistan’s eligible population (82.5 million people aged 12 and above). The program will use rapid screening tests, PCR testing, and a 12-week oral treatment regimen.
Prime Minister’s Program for Prevention and Control of Diabetes Mellitus, valued at Rs 6.8 billion, was also approved. The project focuses on raising awareness, providing diagnostic tools, and offering treatment through public health centers. It will be launched in federal areas in its first year, with a goal of nationwide implementation after securing provincial support.
Manpower Sector
Balochistan Youth Internship Program (Rs 1.82 billion) was approved as part of the post-flood reconstruction and resilience enhancement efforts in Balochistan. This program aims to provide skills training and employment opportunities for youth in the province.
Science and Technology
The Establishment of the Institute of Petroleum Technology (Revised) project, valued at Rs 3.27 billion, was approved to support the development of advanced petroleum-related technologies.
Transport and Communication
The CAREC Corridor Development Investment Program (Tranche-I), which includes the rehabilitation and construction of roads in various regions, was recommended to ECNEC. The project, worth Rs 29.97 billion, will be partly financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), with additional funding from the Government of Sindh and the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP). The project includes roadworks, bridges, underpasses, culverts, drainage systems, and other essential infrastructure.
The CDWP’s approval of these projects marks a significant step forward in addressing the country’s pressing development needs, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022 floods. With substantial funding from both domestic and international sources, these initiatives aim to strengthen Pakistan’s infrastructure, healthcare, and resilience to future disasters.