Farooq Awan

Newly approved development projects are expected to generate close to 65,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities across multiple sectors, according to the Monthly Development Update – December 2025 released by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives.

The report states that the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) approved ten development projects and recommended six others to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in November 2025. During their implementation, these projects will create 994 immediate posts, providing short-term job openings across the sectors where work will begin.

According to the Ministry’s document, the longer-term employment impact is significantly larger. Based on project documents, an estimated 24,859 direct jobs and 40,873 indirect jobs are likely to be generated across various sectors during the full project cycle. These job opportunities will arise from activities associated with construction, operations, logistics, support services, and sector-specific workstreams.

The update notes that employment generation will spread across a wide range of development areas, including infrastructure, transport, water resources, energy, environment, education, information technology, governance and health. Projects approved in November cover multiple geographic regions and include initiatives aimed at improving urban development, enhancing power supply, strengthening irrigation systems, expanding education facilities and upgrading service delivery in critical sectors.

Infrastructure-related projects, including transport and water schemes, are expected to produce substantial employment due to their labour-intensive nature. The report highlights that construction activities, feasibility studies, and operational components within these schemes will drive direct employment, while related upstream and downstream industries are expected to create indirect job opportunities.

The health and education sectors also contribute to long-term job creation through positions linked with service delivery, administration, training and facility operations. Similarly, information technology and governance-related projects are expected to create specialised roles associated with automation, digital services, technical operations and institutional strengthening.

The Ministry notes that job creation linked with development projects plays an important role in supporting economic activity and improving livelihoods across different regions. As implementation progresses, employment will extend to skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled segments of the labour force.

The report states that the employment potential embedded in the newly approved development portfolio reflects the broader role of public investment in stimulating economic activity. It adds that jobs arising from construction, service delivery and project operations contribute to income generation and support wider economic linkages.

According to the Ministry, the combined creation of nearly 65,000 direct and indirect jobs demonstrates the significant employment footprint of development projects approved in November 2025 under the federal development framework.

Credit: INP-WealthPk