CDWP clears eight projects worth Rs144bn

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Tuesday cleared a total of eight development projects worth Rs144.3 billion. A meeting of the CDWP, led by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, approved five development projects with an estimated cost of Rs15.35bn and recommended three others worth Rs129bn to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for formal approval. Mr Iqbal was recently given the portfolio of deputy chairman of the Planning Commission after six months of unease with former chairman Jehanzeb Khan who had to finally quit the position. In his maiden speech as chairman of the CDWP, Mr Iqbal expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the prime minister for entrusting him with the position of PC deputy chairman for the fourth time. The CDWP referred to Ecnec for approval a Rs52.772bn health sector project called “Establishment of Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment & Research, Lahore”.