ISLAMABAD, Sep 2 (APP): The Central Development Working
Party (CDWP), chaired by Minister for Planning, Development and Reform, Prof Ahsan Iqbal, here on Friday approved Rs 8
billion Prime Minister’s National Health Insurance Programme to improve the health status of the population in the country.
The programme would ensure access to quality health
care especially enhancing coverage and access to secondary
and priority treatment of the poor and vulnerable population.
Under the programme, over 4.6 million families would be
provided health insurance in 34 districts of the country.
The CDWP has prioritised health by approving two health
projects worth Rs30 billion including Prime Minister’s
National Health Programme worth Rs8.2 billion and Expanded Programme on Immunization Punjab worth Rs22.3 billion with an FEC of Rs4 billion.
Overall, the CDWP approved seven projects worth Rs
84 billion, including five projects costing Rs80 billion,
which were referred to the Executive Committee of the
National Economic Council (ECNEC). The meeting was chaired by Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Prof Ahsan Iqbal, and was attended by senior officers of the provincial governments and ministries concerned.
While giving his observations on the Prime Minister’s
National Health Programme, the Minister directed the health
ministry to include poorest districts in that programme.
He also directed to advertise the Chief Executive post for this
project and get the most competent person on market based pay.
He directed formation of four member committee to recruit
top talent for the project.
He noted that the success of this project depended on the
ownership of the provinces therefore proper consultations must be done with them.
He also directed to conduct a survey within three months
to identify the gaps in remaining districts with consultation
of the provinces for universal coverage from next year.
While giving his observation on the Expanded Program
on Immunization Punjab project, Prof Ahsan Iqbal directed to
produce local vaccinations instead of importing it and
submit quarterly report on the progress of the indigenous production.
The CDWP approved construction of office complex
including boundary wall for the Survey of Pakistan, which would cost Rs284 million and AJ&K Legislative Assembly Complex to cost Rs2.9billion.
He directed officers of the defence ministry to develop
a business plan related to the dissemination of development related maps of Pakistan. “We should have G Pakistan Vision like E Pakistan,” said the Minister.
The CDWP also approved position paper of construction of
15 residences for police officers in Sector H 11 Islamabad.
The Minister directed formation of a three member committee to conduct inquiry against authorities, who approved this project without authorisation of the competent forum.
For the transport and communication sector, the CDWP
approved 6 lane highway from Kala Shah Kaku to Lahore Ring Road, including a bridge over The Ravi River, which would cost Rs15.3 billion. He directed to rationalise the cost and also re examine the design and strucrure of the project in view of projected traffic. The provision for Ravi bridge should be for eight lanes.
For the governance sector, the CDWP approved Government of Sindh project for enhancing of the public private partnership, which would cost Rs19 billion.
For the energy sector, the CDWP recommended for
approval renewable energy development sector investment programme
• worth Rs15.7 billion with an FEC of Rs4.8 million of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to the ECNEC. This includes construction of 36.6MW HPP Daral Khwar Swat, 17 MW HPP Kohistan, 2.6 MW Machi HPP Mardan, and PEDO Office Building, capacity building and development of PEDO and related entities of the energy and power departments and feasibility studies of Koto Jabori and Karora HPPs.
The CDWP also gave concept clearance of two projects,
which included: automation of post offices through NIPA
inter governmental cooperation of cost Rs1.2 billion, and
Dargai Hydro Station Rehabilitation worth Rs4.8 billion.
