Around 122 schemes of hydropower projects have been identified in NA with the estimated capacity of 773 MW, which are under different stages of project preparation in the public and private sectors. ADB loan will the available up to 80% of the cost.

Establishment of Women University in Multan with a cost of PKR1.7 billion was also approved. A project Establishment of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Accident and Emergency, Trauma Centre and Ancillary Services Complex at Civil Hospital, Karachi’ costing PKR2.5 billion was also recommended to the ECNEC.

Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali said a Thar Coal project was also approved, through which gas would be derived from coal mine. Around higher number of projects, he said in democratic government the number of projects might be increased. However, he claimed that every project was passed after thorough examination by experts in the Planning commission. About forward projects, Sardar said these would be included in the PSDP 2009-10.

Of the 98 projects, cost of each of the 23 projects was above PKR500 million. The total cost of those projects is PKR127.8 billion (87%), which will be placed before ECNEC for approval.

Sectoral-wise distribution of these projects comprises of 51 projects in infrastructure sector costing PKR103.4 billion with PKR56.3 billion as FEC mainly in energy sector, 30 projects of social sector approved worth PKR25.1 billion together with PKR7.1 billion as FEC, while for other sectors total 17 projects were approved worth PKR17.7 billion together with PKR0.04 billion FEC.

To meet the emergent needs of smooth traffic flow for launching of construction activities of Bhasha Dam, the CDWP cleared Diamer Bhasha Dam Project – Construction of By Pass Shatial – Thor Nullah, current Karakorum Highway (KKH)’ at cost of PKR3.93 billion, said deputy chairman.

Railways sector launched a project ‘Procurement/Manufacture of 202 New Design Passenger Carriages’ at a cost of PKR16.9 billion. This was also recommended to ECNEC subject to rationalize of cost and indigenization to the extent possible. Of the 13 projects in water resources sector, the major projects comprise of Sukkar Barrage, Sabakzai Dam, New Khanki Barrage Project and Sindh on Farm Water Management Project costing PKR37.4 billion (respectively PKR2.5 billion, PKR2.0 billion, PKR23.4 billion and PKR9.5 billion).

In the road sector 18 projects costing PKR15.4 billion have been approved or recommended by CDWP mainly to supply modern and safe travel to the general public. The important projects include Improvement Widening and B/T of Road from Takhta Baig to Mathani via Bara By Pass and Sheikhan (30-kms) costing PKR0.8 billion and construction/black topping of road from Hub to Dureji District Lasbella (Length 120-kilometers) PM Package costing PKR1 billion. The CDWP also recommended a project Environment-friendly public transport system for major urban centers of Pakistan at cost of PKR5 billion to ECNEC. This project would be on PPP mode, he maintained.

Land record management information system and tax administration reforms programme with a total cost of PKR12.8 billion (respectively PKR6.3 billion and PKR6.5 billion) were also recommended to ECNEC. In agriculture sector, 8 projects were approved or recommended at a total cost of PKR3.8 billion by CDWP. A pilot project poverty reduction through small holders livestock and dairy development with a total cost of PKR2.5 billion was also recommended to the ECNEC.

For the uplift of Azad Kashmir Pyara Kashmir Programme a cost of PKR11.1 billion has been recommended to the ECNEC. Many projects involve different labor intensity and total direct employment likely to be generated by the said investment has been assessed to about 500,000 labors. This will improve the poverty situation. Firstly, those openly unemployed who will get the job and enter the earning stream, will do away with their abject poverty. Secondly, those who are less-than-optimally employed will have a chance to upgrade their employment status thereby improving their earning capacity. This will result in decreasing the severity of poverty.

A major new initiative on skills’ development has been initiated to raise productivity, and improve competitiveness, to decrease skills gap in the economy. The approved Training Institute in Kasur will be the first such institute in each district in Pakistan (130), which under the Human Development Initiative will produce 250,000 skilled people a year.