K-P CM ticks Omar Ayub’s wish list for projects in Haripur

CM Mahmood Khan agrees to upgrade roads, hospitals, water schemes in K-P

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to launch infrastructure projects and complete the ongoing ones across the province as centre assures of releasing Rs20 billion share of K-P from net hydroelectric power share.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has assured Omar Ayub Khan of carrying out development work in Haripur.

Power Minister Omar Ayub Khan in turn assured the CM of helping in release of Rs20 billion from K-P’s share in net hydel profits.

“Development projects discussed and approved by CM KPK in today's meeting attended by me, Yousaf Ayub Khan Former Provincial Minister C&W, Akbar Ayub Khan, Provincial Minister C&W, Arshad Ayub Khan, MPA, and Zahid Wariach DC Haripur,” Omar tweeted and posted on Facebook.

Enumerating the projects from one to nine, Omar wrote, (Haripur) Medical College and upgradation of DHQ Hospital, tube wells for the 'Panj Katha' area, water supply scheme for Killinger, roads for different areas of Haripur district, park for Kangra Colony, gymnasium for Haripur, sewerage treatment plant for Hattar Industrial Area, expediting all education projects in Haripur district, and creation of 'Makhnial Development Authority' for Upper Khanpur. The funds will come from provincial share in hydel profits.

“Power Minister Omar assured of immediately releasing Rs20 billion as a part of the net hydel profit due against the federal government,” said an official hand out.

According to the statement Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and Federal Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan on Thursday co-chaired a meeting at K-P CM Secretariat that decided to launch infrastructure projects in the small cities and the development of existing infrastructure in the big cities throughout the province.

The meeting agreed to accelerate the process of work on the CPEC related project and removing hurdles in the hydropower generation and gas project. Most of the issues discussed in the meeting were about Hazara division and Haripur in particular.

The chief minister assured drinking and water supply schemes near the Tarbela Dam areas and assured to spread a network of development schemes in the areas having natural advantages but have no efficient facilities in all sectors.

CM Mahmood further assured new schemes for newly merged districts adding that Dasu and Basha Dam would become the life lines for the economy of the province.

The meeting took place at the Chief Minister Secretariat focused on infrastructure development projects with focus on road communication, education, health, irrigation etc.

The meeting was attended by MPA Arshad Ayub, administrative secretaries and senior officials of the departments concerned.

The meeting took up the issue of starting of classes in Haripur medical college, upgrading Category-B Hospital, MPU, provision of doctors, construction of Civil Hospital Kotla, annual development programme, issues of health, new schemes, mother and children hospital and Trauma Centre Haripur, road communication projects, drinking and water supplies schemes, Haripur economic zone, Haripur polytechnic college and construction of offices in Khanpur and made a number of decisions.

The CM agreed in principle to lease the PTCL building to house Haripur Medical College for five years. He agreed to upgrade the Category-B Hospital to Category-A Hospital and the recruitment of doctors, paramedics and other staff for the public health facility. He assured funding for the remaining work of Good Wania Dam.

The chief minister in principle agreed to the Makanyal Development Authority and directed to review the existing laws of the KPEZDMC and environmental economic zone and other industrial zones. The deputy commissioner of Haripur would enjoy powers for preventing pollution and would take necessary steps in this regard. He also agreed to the need-driven imposition of Section 4 for acquisition of land for all projects of public interest.  The CM directed to strictly ban all sorts of postings and transfers in education. He assured to resolve all problems of district Haripur in different sectors.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2019.