Pakistan’s Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved 10 development projects worth approximately Rs40.915 billion and recommended three major initiatives valued at Rs172.25 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval.
The decisions were made during a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal in Islamabad on October 26, 2026. The projects cover education, youth development, energy, transport, broadcasting and water resources.
Major Projects Referred for Final Approval
Three large-scale initiatives worth Rs172.25 billion were referred to ECNEC for further consideration. Two focus on irrigation and flood management, while the third aims to provide solar energy to households in newly merged districts.
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Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa irrigation project: Valued at Rs69.89 billion, the project aims to rehabilitate the Pehur Main Canal, construct the Mulkhow Irrigation Distribution System and extend the Pehur High Level Canal.
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Integrated Hill Torrent Management project: Costing Rs85.34 billion, the scheme will improve irrigation and flood protection in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur districts of Punjab.
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Solar scheme for newly merged districts: The Rs13.32 billion initiative aims to provide off-grid solar energy solutions to households.
The two water-related projects will receive substantial co-financing from the Asian Development Bank, alongside contributions from the provincial governments of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.
Education and Youth Development Projects
Several approved projects focus on expanding educational opportunities and supporting young people across Pakistan.
The CDWP approved in principle the establishment of Daanish Schools in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh. Separate Daanish School projects in Kuri, Islamabad, and Qila Saifullah, Balochistan, also received in-principle approval, subject to further review and cost adjustments.
The approved youth-focused initiatives include:
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Prime Minister’s Youth Development Centres, costing Rs4.14 billion.
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Talent Hunt Youth Sports League (Phase I), worth Rs3.99 billion.
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National Innovation Award, valued at Rs1.97 billion.
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Youth Programme Sports Academies, High Performance and Resource Centre, and Youth Olympics, costing Rs2.96 billion.
These initiatives aim to support youth skills, innovation, sports participation and talent development.
Energy and Broadcasting Initiatives
The CDWP also approved in principle a pilot Battery Energy Storage System at the 220kV Jhimpir-I grid station, costing approximately Rs4.39 billion. The project is intended to improve electricity-grid stability and support the integration of renewable energy.
Another initiative involves revamping Pakistan Television Corporation (PTVC) at an estimated cost of Rs3.96 billion. The plan focuses on digital transformation, commercialising international assets and improving the broadcaster’s long-term financial sustainability.
Road Infrastructure Project Approved
The construction of an eight-lane overhead bridge at Imamia Colony Railway Crossing in Shahdara, Lahore, was approved at an estimated cost of Rs7.49 billion.
The project includes improvements to connecting roads and is intended to ease traffic congestion in Shahdara Town, a busy urban area along National Highway N-5.
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What Happens Next?
The 10 projects approved by the CDWP can proceed according to their respective administrative and implementation requirements. The three projects referred to ECNEC, however, require further approval before moving ahead.
The decisions form part of the government’s broader development agenda, covering public education, youth opportunities, energy infrastructure, road connectivity and water management. Their eventual impact will depend on funding arrangements, implementation timelines and effective monitoring.
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