ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Thursday cleared a total of five development projects with a total estimated cost of Rs246 billion, including Thar Coal Rail Connectivity and cost escalation of New Gwadar International Airport.

The meeting of the CDWP presided over by Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr Moh­a­m­­mad Jehanzeb Khan also noted with concern serious violations of previous decisions of the Execu­tive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) by Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), resulting in project delays and cost escalation to over Rs60bn from Rs51bn in November 2021 and ordered an inquiry to fix responsibility.

The meeting also cleared the project concept for the domestic resource mobilisation programme to secure about $400 million (about Rs120bn) in foreign loans including $300m from the Asian Development Bank as policy-­based lending besides a $100m co-financing from Korean ­Exim Bank and Asian Infra­struc­ture Investment Bank (AIIB).

The project envisages the construction of a 105km new single-­line railway track from Thar Coal Mines to New Chhor Station and building of an 18 km long double-­line tra­ck which includes 4.2km-long loop lines from Bin Qasim to Port Qasim.

Overall, the CDWP recommended two mega projects to the Ecnec for approval and itself approved two smaller projects.

The meeting recommended to Ecnec to approve the Rs55.97bn project of Thar Coal Rail Connectivity with the existing railway network including last-mile connectivity with Port Qasim. The Ministry of Railway is the sponsoring agency of the project. The main objective of the project is to connect Thar Coal mines and Port Qasim through new rail links and is aligned with the sectoral objectives of Vision 2025 by providing bulk transportation facilities according to the requirements of the growing economy.

The CDWP also recommended for approval the construction of New Gwadar International Air­port’s (NGIA) revised plan to Ecnec with a total estimated cost of Rs60.208b. The 3rd Revised Project PC-1 envisages the construction of the NGIA along with allied facilities over a piece of land already acquired measuring 4,300 acres. The project was originally approved in January 2010 with an estimated cost of Rs7.6bn and kept on changing in terms of scope and financing and was twice revised in January 2015 at Rs22.9bn and then for Rs51.3bn in November 2021.

The CDWP approved a Rs6.121bn project for the Improve­ment and Widening of Spera Ragha Road from Khanozai Cross to Loralai Killa Saifullah. It also approved the Special Repair of 600 Passenger Coaches and 1,200 bogie wagons at an estimated cost of Rs3.95bn.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2023