ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) approved three development projects worth Rs 5,779.25 million while four projects worth Rs 3,3027.298 million were referred to executive committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval.
An official statement issued here said that seven projects worth Rs38,806.548 million were discussed in detail at the CDWP meeting which was chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal.
The three projects approved by CDWP were Rehabilitation of 300 NOs Traction Motors worth Rs 1,650 million, Public Sector Enterprise Reforms Rs 2,272.5 million and Project for security improvement in Karachi port and Port Qasim for installation of three fixed and one mobile scanners by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) worth Rs 1,856.75 million.
The projects recommended to ECNEC were rehabilitation, up-gradation and conversion of 400 railways coaches worth Rs 5,200 million, Special Repair of 100 diesel Electric Locomotives worth Rs 4843 million, replacement of old and obsolete signal gear from Lodhran-Multan, Khanewal-Shahdara Bagh Main line section of Pakistan Railways worth Rs 1,8484.298 million and Islamabad-Raikot section Phase-I Havelian Thakot worth Rs 4,500 million.
To streamline transport, Ahsan Iqbal said that Pakistan Railways should come up with Railways Business Plan 2025 by keeping in view cargo and passenger load in the country as it would also boost materialize goals of vision 2025 set forth for transport and communications.
He emphasized the project executioners to approach Europe, Japan and China to explore opportunities for free technical expertise in reforming railways on modern lines.