ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Friday approved two development projects of energy and water supply in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, respectively, with a total estimated cost of Rs7.87 billion.

Under the current financial rules, the CDWP is empowered to itself approve projects costing up to Rs7.5bn while the projects of higher estimated costs are ap­­pr­oved by Executive Commit­tee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on CDWP recommendations after clearance on technical grounds.

In the energy sector, a project for laying of a 28km 220kV Transmission Line along with second Circuit Stringing of 132kV Transmission Line from Jiwani to Gwadar of 94km was approved with a revised cost of Rs4.54bn.

The project is aimed at seamless transmission of power import from Iran.

The project to be financed through the federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) is aimed at providing uninterrupted power supply to consumers of all categories and to improve the commercial viability of the power sector as a whole.

The project will support the Quetta Electric Power Supply Company (Qesco), which is facing huge system losses and low recoveries, through a fault-free high-voltage system with minimum possible losses and expenditure. The proposed project involves construction of grid stations.

The proposed scope of associated work involves installation of a number of Air Insulated Switchgears (AIS) including two 132kV (AIS) grid stations at Jiwani, two at Gwadar besides a 220/132kw transmission line from Gabd at Pak-Iran border to Jiwani zero Point (about 30km) of NTDC and construction of 2nd Circuit Stringing of existing 132 kV from Jiwani to Gwadar old transmission line of 94km of Qesco.

The CDWP also approved another project relating to Physical Planning and Housing sector namely “Gravity Based Safe Drinking Water Supply System in Havelian, Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” at a cost of Rs3.336bn.

The sponsoring agency of the project is the KP government, which would provide Rs1.296bn, while remaining funds would be provided by Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica) through a $12 million grant in aid.

The scope of the project includes land acquisition, construction of approach roads, utilities such as water supply, electricity, etc, design of water supply system and construction of water supply system.

It would also provide equipment for operation of water treatment plant, capacity-building for the personnel of water supply system and strengthening of research and policy making capacity on water supply system.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2024