No mega projects proposed for Peshawar

Most projects are vaguely mentioned in white paper

PESHAWAR: In the amount of nearly Rs34 billion set aside for development of districts, there is no allocation for mega projects in the provincial metropolis.

The government has allocated Rs6 billion to the local government sector. This allocation should not be confused with the district development grant. In the latter, there are 36 projects out of which 24 are ongoing with an allocation of Rs2.66 billion and 12 are new and have Rs3.33 billion at their disposal.

However, the white paper does not talk of any mega projects for Peshawar. The only project mentioned for the city is that of a new general bus stand.

The other projects include a special initiative programme for PK-30, Mardan and priority projects in K-P, besides district development initiatives and uplift of hill stations in Malakand Division.

However, the document does not explain the special initiatives and priority projects.



The budget for the local government, this time around, is lesser than allocated in the outgoing fiscal year. Last time, the province had 20 new projects and an amount of Rs17.76 billion, whereas for 2016-17, schemes have been reduced to 12 with an amount of Rs6 billion.

For the city

The situation is similar for the urban development sector where no mega projects have been proposed for the city. The government allocated Rs5.55 billion for the urban development sector with only three new projects proposed under an allocation of Rs30 million.



The so-called major projects in this sector for Peshawar include widening the service road from existing Jamrud Road to Tambwano Mor at the first entrance of Hayatabad. There is also provision for the construction of a service road from Hayatabad to Charsadda Road.

In the housing sector, the government has allocated a minimal chunk, Rs 0.54 billion. The proposed projects in this sector include the purchase of 8,000 kanals of land for an expressway from GT Road (Taru Jabba) to Model Town Peshawar. Also included is the purchase of 17,000 kanals of land for Model Town, Peshawar.

While talking to The Express Tribune, ANP MPA Syed Jaffar Shah expressed confusion over the use of phrases like special initiatives and priority budgets in the white paper, saying the document does not clearly mention government plans for these schemes.

However, when asked, Minister for Finance Muzaffar Said summarised the white paper, saying allocations have been made for the beautification of Peshawar.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2016.