K-P CM approves handing over of GDA to TCKP

Offers Iran to renegotiate MoUs to push projects into implementation phase

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has agreed in principle to transfer Galiyat Development Authority (GDA) from the administrative control of the local government to the Tourism Corporation of K-P (TCKP).

According to an official hand out issued on Monday, the decision to this affect was made in a high level meeting p[resided by CM Mahmood. Senior Minister Atif Khan, Minister for Tourism and Minister Local Government Shahram Khan Tarakai, Principal Secretary to CM Israr Khan, secretaries of local government and tourism departments attended the meeting.

The meeting also agreed to develop the adjoining areas of Khanpur Dam on tourism lines.

Separately, in a meeting with Iranian Consul General Muhammad Bagher Beigi, CM Mahmood offered the Iranian government to renegotiate the MoUs signed between the government of K-P and Iranian public and private sectors in order to push these projects into the implementation phase.

Beigi said his country was eager to invest in energy, oil and gas and hydropower projects in the province.

The Iranian envoy also talked about the exchange of trade, commerce, business, travelling agents, students and journalist's delegation. He was especially interested in the investment of different merged districts adding that despite difficult time, the Iranian government has given scholarships to the students of the province. He extended the invitation to the CM Mahmood for visiting Iran and requested to solve the problems related to Iranian consulate in the University Town Peshawar. The CM assured to resolve this problem and said he would soon visit Iran. Later Mahmood and Beigi exchanged shields.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2019.