Farooq Awan

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved and cleared major development projects worth more than Rs259 billion during October 2025, marking a significant push in efforts to boost economic growth, strengthen service delivery, and accelerate infrastructure development across the country. According to the Monthly Development Update for November 2025, the approved portfolio is expected to generate nearly 100,000 direct and indirect jobs over the coming years.

The report states that the CDWP addressed 29 agenda items during the month, comprising 24 development projects and five concept clearance papers. Out of these, the CDWP approved 12 development projects and five concept papers, while six projects were recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval. Another six projects were deferred for further technical review.

The combined investment portfolio presented in October amounted to Rs259 billion, with funding spread across agriculture, governance, health, housing, power, social welfare and transport. Two large agriculture projects worth Rs116.5 billion were among the key initiatives recommended to ECNEC. These schemes aim to improve access to agricultural water, enhance productivity and support higher farm incomes.

Another Rs7.35 billion project was approved to strengthen the animal health system through improved surveillance, traceability, disease control and compliance with international standards. The Planning Ministry noted that agricultural investments are crucial for enhancing food security and promoting climate-resilient farming practices.

In governance and institutional strengthening, the CDWP approved a Rs3.08 billion project to digitise public investment management systems, enhance development planning, and improve procurement and financial management processes. The initiative seeks to enhance efficiency and transparency by integrating data-driven decision tools and modernising administrative workflows. Three health-related projects amounting to Rs9.96 billion were approved to expand access to primary healthcare and improve service delivery.

These initiatives include improving emergency care, strengthening district-level diabetes prevention and management, and increasing access to insulin in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The report notes that these interventions will help reduce the disease burden and improve outcomes for vulnerable communities. In the higher education sector, the CDWP approved a Rs1.47 billion project to upgrade veterinary and animal sciences education, expand research facilities and strengthen the link between academia and agricultural value chains.

The project is designed to enhance research capacity and support livestock sector development. The physical planning and housing portfolio included two major projects, one of which, a Rs52.19 billion initiative, was recommended to ECNEC. The project aims to reduce groundwater pollution, improve downstream water quality in Lahore and restore aquatic ecosystems through wastewater treatment and integrated sanitation planning. A second project was deferred for further review.

In the energy sector, three hydropower projects worth Rs16.02 billion were approved to meet rising electricity demand in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. These schemes are intended to expand the share of indigenous clean energy and improve the region’s power supply reliability. The social welfare sector saw a major development as a Rs64.40 billion project was recommended to ECNEC for approval. The initiative focuses on strengthening social protection systems, with a particular emphasis on maternal, newborn, and child health in rural Sindh.

The programme aims to expand essential services for vulnerable households and improve coordination among provincial social protection institutions. Transport and communications discussions during the month included feasibility studies for sustainable Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors with feeder routes. Two feasibility studies were approved, while a third for upgrading an existing double rail line to enable speeds of up to 160 km/h was referred to ECNEC for final clearance.

The Planning Ministry estimates that the combination of approved and ECNEC-referred projects will create 2,501 new posts in the short term and nearly 95,500 direct and indirect jobs over the next five to seven years. The report states that these projects support national priorities by expanding infrastructure, improving governance and enhancing services across key sectors. The Ministry noted that October’s approvals demonstrate the government’s commitment to accelerating development spending, improving project delivery and strengthening Pakistan’s long-term growth trajectory.

Credit: INP-WealthPk