Development & Policy Desk | April 2026 | 5 min read
| ⚡ QUICK TAKEAWAYS
• CDWP approved Rs 24.385 billion across 7 projects under Uraan Pakistan spanning education, health, governance, infrastructure and environment. • The largest single project is the Model Prison H-16 Islamabad at Rs 7,399 million. • Two Daanish Schools were approved — one in ICT Kuri (girls hostel only) and one in Tandoo Muhammad Khan, Sindh. • The Sindh Health Support Programme (Rs 2.27 billion) is primarily funded by the World Bank at Rs 2.1 billion. • CTD capacity in Azad Jammu and Kashmir will be strengthened with Rs 1.98 billion — a counter-terrorism infrastructure investment. |
The Central Development Working Party has cleared Rs 24.385 billion in development spending across seven projects under the Uraan Pakistan initiative — covering a wide range of public priorities from Daanish Schools and hospital support to counter-terrorism infrastructure, air quality monitoring, and a new federal prison in Islamabad.
APPROVED PROJECTS — KEY NUMBERS
| Rs 24.4B
Total Approved 7 projects across 5 development sectors |
Rs 7.4B
Largest Project Model Prison H-16 Islamabad |
Rs 2.1B
World Bank Share Sindh Health Support Programme funding |
All 7 Approved Projects — Complete Breakdown
| Sector | Project | Value | Key Condition |
| Education | Daanish School — ICT Kuri (Revised) | Rs 6,996.586M | PM-directed — girls hostel component only |
| Education | Daanish School — Tandoo Muhammad Khan, Sindh | Rs 3,693.836M | Costs to align with other Daanish projects |
| Health | Sindh Health Support Programme (Revised) | Rs 2,266.997M | World Bank: Rs 2,100.539M + Sindh: Rs 166.458M |
| Governance | Strengthening CTD — Azad Jammu & Kashmir | Rs 1,981.650M | Approved — ammunition costs to be rationalized |
| Environment | Air Quality Monitoring Network — Sindh | Rs 1,418.400M | Conditionally approved |
| Infra & Housing | Federal Tribunals/Courts Complex — Hayatabad, KP | Rs 628.816M | Approved for construction |
| Infra & Housing | Model Prison H-16 — Islamabad | Rs 7,399.120M | Largest single project in this batch |
Education: Two Daanish Schools Approved With Conditions
Two Daanish School projects were reviewed and approved at this CDWP session. The revised Daanish School project for ICT Kuri carries a value of Rs 6,996.586 million — making it the second-largest project in the batch. However, approval was strictly limited to the girls’ hostel component on the Prime Minister’s specific directions, meaning the broader project scope remains under review.
The second education project — a new Daanish School at Tandoo Muhammad Khan in Sindh — was approved at Rs 3,693.836 million, with a condition that costs be brought into alignment with the benchmarks established by other Daanish School projects across Pakistan. Together, these two education projects represent over Rs 10.69 billion of the total approved amount.
| DAANISH SCHOOLS BACKGROUND
Daanish Schools are state-funded residential schools providing free education to students from low-income and rural backgrounds. They operate as boarding institutions with quality facilities — a model designed to equalise educational opportunity for children who would not otherwise have access to quality schooling. |
Health: World Bank-Backed Sindh Programme Gets the Green Light
The revised Sindh Health Support Programme worth Rs 2,266.997 million received CDWP approval, with the World Bank contributing the bulk of the funding at Rs 2,100.539 million and the Government of Sindh contributing Rs 166.458 million. Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal described health as a central pillar of the Uraan Pakistan development agenda, underscoring the significance of this provincial health investment at the federal level.
Governance & Security: CTD Strengthened in AJK
The Counter Terrorism Department in Azad Jammu and Kashmir will receive Rs 1,981.650 million to strengthen its operational capacity, personnel and infrastructure. The project was approved with a condition to rationalize ammunition costs — a standard fiscal discipline requirement for security sector projects. Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal highlighted the project’s importance in addressing security challenges specific to the AJK region.
Infrastructure: Peshawar Courts Complex and Islamabad’s Biggest New Prison
Two physical planning and housing projects were approved. The smaller of the two is the construction of a Federal Tribunals and Courts Complex at Hayatabad in Peshawar, valued at Rs 628.816 million — aimed at improving judicial infrastructure and access to courts in KP’s largest city.
The single largest project in the entire CDWP batch is the construction of Model Prison H-16 in Islamabad at Rs 7,399.120 million. The modern prison facility is intended to replace or supplement existing detention infrastructure in the capital, addressing longstanding concerns about prison overcrowding and management standards in the federal capital.
Environment: Air Quality Network for Sindh
A conditional approval was granted for the Air Quality Monitoring Network project in Sindh, valued at Rs 1,418.400 million. The project will establish a network of air quality monitoring stations to support improved air quality management across the province — addressing a growing public health concern in Pakistan’s urban centres where industrial and vehicular pollution has significantly worsened in recent years.
Key Takeaways
- CDWP approved Rs 24.385 billion in 7 development projects under Uraan Pakistan covering 5 sectors.
- Education received the largest share — over Rs 10.69 billion across two Daanish School projects, both with approval conditions.
- Model Prison H-16 Islamabad (Rs 7.4B) is the single largest approved project in this batch.
- The Sindh Health Support Programme (Rs 2.27B) is backed primarily by World Bank funding of Rs 2.1 billion.
- CTD in AJK gets Rs 1.98 billion for counter-terrorism capacity — with a requirement to rationalize ammunition costs.
- Sindh’s Air Quality Monitoring Network (Rs 1.42B) received conditional approval.
DISCLAIMER: All project values and approval details are based on official CDWP announcements. This content is intended for general informational purposes only.
