Pakistan Clears Five Development Projects Worth More Than Rs60 Billion

Pakistan’s Central Development Working Party has cleared five development projects worth more than Rs60 billion, led by a plan to carry water from Mirani Dam to Gwadar through a 125-kilometre pipeline.

The meeting, chaired by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, approved three projects costing a combined Rs11.7 billion. It sent two more, valued at Rs48.545 billion, to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council for approval. Those include procedural clearance for the Rs19.55 billion Karachi Neighbourhood Improvement Project, which is nearing completion with World Bank financing.

The Planning Commission recommended cutting the Gwadar water project’s estimated cost by about 20 percent, from the Balochistan government’s proposed Rs29 billion to Rs23.82 billion. The reduction would save an estimated Rs5.235 billion without changing the project’s design or scope. Officials attributed the saving to lower contractor overheads under non-scheduled items.

The project still faces technical conditions involving demand estimates, hydrology, confirmation of the water source, procurement, land acquisition, operations and maintenance, and its implementation schedule. Iqbal allowed the scheme to move to the bidding stage, but said no contract should be awarded until Ecnec approves it.

He also ordered a study into wastewater treatment in Gwadar, warning that sewage should not be allowed to pollute the sea. The Karachi project is expected to receive an $85 million World Bank loan, equivalent to Rs16.7 billion, alongside Rs2.8 billion from the Sindh government.

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The city should not be allowed to become another Karachi, with sewage polluting the sea.