CM suspends corrupt E&T team at M1 toll plaza in Peshawar

Officials accused of extorting money from people at illegally set up check-post

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Friday suspended the whole team of Excise and Taxation Department (E&T) posted at the entrance of the Motorway Toll Plaza in Peshawar.

The CM complaint cell had been receiving recurrent complaints that E&T officials were extorting bribes from people crossing the Motorway Toll Plaza.

CM Mahmood had earlier issued the directions to remove the illegal E&T check post at the entrance of motorway. “We are in government to give facilities to our people instead of creating hurdles and hardship for them,” the CM said according to a statement issued late on Friday night.

“Public servants have to change their behaviour as they are in the office to facilitate the people not to create difficulties for them,” Mahmood said.



K-P takes over roads

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan approved provincialisation of six roads along-with their nomenclatures.

He also approved regularisation of 148 contract employees of Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority and technical allowance for graduate engineers working in the field under Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority. Approval to this effect was given in the 16th annual meeting of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Highways Council held at Chief Minister's Secretariat Peshawar

Provincial Minister for communication and works Akbar Ayub, Minister for Finance Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Additional Chief Secretary Shehzad Bangash and other concerned authorities attended.

The meeting members were briefed about the implementation status on decisions taken in the last meeting of Council. Meeting approved annual development program of Council for year 2018-19.

The meeting also approved the proposed maintenance plan for 2018-19 and budget of Council for 2018-19. The meeting was informed that presently Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority is the custodian of 34 Provincial Highways with the total length of 2790 KM.

The previous meeting of the Council had approved provincialization of Manglawar to Malam Jabba road in District Swat and Sirikot to Goodwalian bypass road and the decision has been implemented.

On the recommendations of Council, the meeting also approved provincialisation of six more roads including 35km-long Chukiatan-Sheringal-Patrak Road (S-16) in Dir Upper District, the 23km-long Matta-Fazal Banda Road (S-17) in Swat distric, 12km-long Umarzai-Tangi Road (S-9-B) in Charsadda, 24km-long Haripur Bypass (S-12-A) in Haripur district, 35km-long Amberi Killi-Abbassi Banda Road (S-13-A) in Karak district and 16km-long Rehana-Laddhar-Mang Road (S-5-C) in Haripur district.

The meeting also conditionally agreed to the widening and rehabilitation of Thakot-Darband road and directed the quarter concerned to submit a practicable plan in this regard.

Imposition of Tax on difference provincial roads was also discussed in the meeting.

Chief Minister Mahmood directed provincial ministers for Communication and Works Department (C&W) and Finance Department to devise a strategy and submit a realistic proposal within a month, adding, federal authorities concerned should also be approached for the purpose.

The meeting also approved the new method of recruitment of Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority (PKHA) managing director.



According recruitment plan the requirements for PKHA MD would be MSc Civil Engineering backed by 15 years of relevant experience or first class BSc in Civil Engineering having 20 years of relevant experience or by selection on merit from amongst BPS-19 directors of the authority having at least five years qualifying experience in BS-19 or by transfer from amongst BS-19 and 20 officers of Communication and Works Department.

The meeting also discussed progress on Swat Motorway. CM directed to ensure fast track progress on the project and warned that quality of work should not be compromised.

He also directed to hold a meeting with National Highways Authority for timely deployment of NHMP on Swat Motorway. The matter regarding share of province in net hydroelectric energy profit was also discussed in the meeting.

The chief minister assured to negotiate receiving Rs26 billion as share of province under Net Hydel Profit.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2018.