At a CDWP meeting presided over by the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission,Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, three development projects with a cost of Rs. 0.6billion were approved, and three projects worth Rs. 60.64 billion wererecommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council(ECNEC) for further consideration.
Senior officials from Planning Commission and Federal Ministries/Divisionsalso participated in the meeting, while representatives from provincialgovernments participated through video conferences. Projects related to theIndustries & Commerce, and Transport & Communications sectors werepresented in the meeting.
Three projects related to the Industries and Commerce sector were approvedby CDWP. The first project presented in the forum, namely “Establishment ofJoint Border Market at Gabd District Gwadar, Balochistan,” is worth Rs.226.585 million.
The second project presented in the meeting was “Establishment of JointBorder Market at Mand District Keh, Balochistan,” worth Rs. 183.905 million.
The third project, namely “Establishment of Joint Border Market at GhedhiDistrict Panjgur, Balochistan,” is worth Rs. 184.501 million. Theseprojects are aimed at the construction of a border market at the Pak-Iranborder, which spans over an area of 40,000 sq. and both sides will share a20,000 sq. market. The project is based on MoU signed between Pakistan &Iran Governments to establish six border substances market places alongPak-Iran borders, where three market places will be established in thefirst phase.
The project intends to promote trade activities between local people.Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Dr. Mohammad Jhanzeb, said thatPakistan needs to improve the enabling environment for trade on the borderareas, specifically enabling environment for regional trade. The focus mustbe on governments coordination, trade promotion infrastructure, automationof government-to-business interaction to reduce cost and increasetransparency and implementation support.
CDWP recommended three megaprojects of the Transport and Communicationssector to ECNEC for further approval worth Rs. 60.64 billion. The firstproject presented in the meeting, namely “Constriction of Rawalpindi RingRoad-R3 (38.3 KM) Main Carriageway (MCW) From Baanth (N-5) To Thalian(M-2),” worth Rs. 23,606.214 million. The sponsoring agency is Govt. ofPunjab and executing agency is Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA). Outof the total PC-I cost of Rs. 23,606.21 million, which is for constructionof Rawalpindi Ring Road, the Proposed Federal Share is Rs. 15,165.47million, and the Proposed Govt. of Punjab Share is Rs. 8,440.74 million.
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The project envisages the construction of 6 lanes access-controlledRawalpindi Ring Road measuring 38.30 km in length. The alignment of theRawalpindi Ring Road originates from National Highway (N-5) at Baanth(District Rawalpindi) crosses through Chakbeli Road, Adiyala Road, ChakriRoad, and terminates at Motorway M-2 at Thallian Interchange. The scope ofwork also includes the construction of grade-separated interchanges (5Nos), bridges (2 Nos), flyover (1 No), Subways (32 Nos), box culverts (34Nos), Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), fence on both sides of ROW,toll plazas and weighbridges.
The second project presented in the meeting, namely “Land Acquisition forLai Expressway & Flood Channel, Rawalpindi (GS No.6529),” is worth Rs.24,960 million. The PC-I envisages acquisition of 750 Kanal of land toprovide the clear Right of Way (ROW) for construction of the Lai NullahExpressway and Flood Channel Project (whole Nullah Lai spanning over 16.5km, i.e., from the Katarian Bridge to Soan River near High Court) whichwould constitute an integral part of the transportation network ofRawalpindi beside flood mitigation and sewage disposal. The scope and costalso include compensation to be provided to the built-up properties andcharges for shifting and idle time compensation.
The third project presented in the meeting, namely “Feasibility Study &Construction of 10th Avenue from IJP Road to Srinagar Highway Islamabad,”is worth Rs. 12,080 million. As per the master plan, 10th Avenue is anIntegral Part of the Islamabad road network.
The project has been planned to provide better traffic facilities, savetravel time and vehicle operating costs, avoid inconvenience to the generalpublic, avoid security hazards, reduce the risk of accidents, andultimately, the project will be helpful to reduce air and noise pollutiondue to reduced traffic congestions.
The road will also provide a link to the railway dry port, the industrialarea of Islamabad, and to the new Islamabad International airport throughthe Srinagar Highway. It is also envisaged that traffic from N-5 throughMargalla road will also use this road to reach the middle of the twin cityand industrial area, which will be the nearest approach.
