CDWP approves revised Rs7bn PC-I for Kuri Daanish School in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Wednesday approved a revised PC-I of nearly Rs7 billion for the Daanish School in Islamabad’s Kuri area, while the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) separately cleared Rs2 billion for the project and the Prime Minister’s Youth Skill Development Programme.

The CDWP meeting was chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Ahsan Iqbal. According to the Planning Commission, the forum reviewed a range of development initiatives aimed at supporting key sectors of the economy and advancing the government’s reform agenda, including the revised PC-I for Kuri Daanish School.

The school has been established in Islamabad at an estimated cost of Rs5 billion and has recently completed its first admissions cycle, enrolling 360 students in classes six to eight. The revised PC-I was taken up to add facilities including girls’ hostels, teaching and non-teaching hostels, and other amenities.

According to the Planning Commission, the CDWP approved the revised PC-I of Kuri Daanish School worth Rs6,996.586 million strictly on the basis of the prime minister’s directions, with approval granted only for the girls’ hostel component.

During the meeting, Ahsan Iqbal directed the relevant departments to ensure that all Daanish Schools follow a standardised model in structure, cost and scope. He also stressed that no extra expenditure beyond the approved component would be permitted and reiterated that only the girls’ hostel had been approved in line with the prime minister’s directions.

The planning minister further directed the Ministry of Education to work with the Ministry of Finance on a comprehensive five-year financial plan and to assess funding needs for all Daanish Schools.

Other projects approved by CDWP

The forum approved seven development projects worth Rs24.385 billion under the URAAN Pakistan Initiative, according to the Planning Commission.

Among them was an environment sector project titled Air Quality Monitoring Network for Air Quality Management Improvement in Sindh, valued at Rs1,418.400 million, which was conditionally approved with directions to coordinate with the Economic Affairs Division for funding.

A governance sector project, Strengthening of Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) (Development Component), worth Rs1,981.650 million, was also approved, subject to rationalisation of ammunition costs.

In the education and training sector, the project Establishment of Daanish School at Sindh (Tandoo Muhammad Khan), worth Rs3,693.836 million, received approval.

A revised health sector project, Sindh Health Support Program, worth Rs2,266.997 million, was also approved. The Planning Commission said the World Bank would provide Rs2,100.539 million for the project, while the Government of Sindh would contribute Rs166.458 million.

Two projects in the physical planning and housing sector were also approved: Construction of Federal Tribunals/Courts Complex at Hayatabad, Peshawar, worth Rs628.816 million, and Construction of Model Prison H-16 Islamabad, worth Rs7,399.120 million.

The meeting was attended by the chief economist, the vice chancellor of PIDE, members of the Planning Commission, federal secretaries, heads of provincial planning and development departments, and senior representatives of relevant ministries and provincial governments.

ECC decisions

Separately, the ECC met under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb and approved a Technical Supplementary Grant (TSG) of Rs2.8 billion for the Federal Directorate of Immunisation.

The ECC also approved amendments to the Import Policy Order 2022 for the import of areca nut, as well as a TSG of Rs306 million for the Airports Security Force under the Defence Division.

In addition, the committee approved the allocation of Rs2 billion through a Technical Supplementary Grant for priority initiatives, including the establishment of Daanish School in Kuri, Islamabad, and the Prime Minister’s Youth Skill Development Programme under NAVTTC aimed at improving youth employability.