UK's DFID willing to help K-P govt for development in ex-FATA

CM Mahmood says govt has roadmap for development in merged tribal districts

PESHAWAR: The UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) is willing to help Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government for development in the merged tribal districts.

DFID head in Pakistan Joanna Reid in a meeting with CM Mahmood Khan said that her team could cooperate with the government in the resolution of problems faced by the merged districts of ex-Fata.

“A pleasure to be in Peshawar yesterday and meet with ministers,” she had tweeted on her Twitter account.

A pleasure to be in Peshawar yesterday and meet with Ministers @ShahramKTarakai @AtifKhanpti https://t.co/oEg4eYE0Ri

— Joanna Reid (@JoannaReid_GOAL) February 15, 2019

During the meeting held at CM Secretariat, Reid appreciated the efforts for the restoration of law and order situation and expressed keen interest in the overall development and prosperity of the newly merged districts adding that the reforms and the provincial government’s priorities were appreciable.

CM Mahmood said his government has planned infrastructure development in the seven merged districts of erstwhile Fata.

Mahmood told Reid that these areas have diversified potential for investment in different sectors.

They exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, the statement said. Mahmood said that K-P was in the advance stage of implementation on the national action plan. It encouraged the pro-peace elements and discouraged extremism.

Minister for Finance Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Special Assistant to CM Ziaullah Bangash, Additional Chief Secretary Shehzad Bangash, Principal Secretary to CM Muhammad Israr, Head of SSU Sahibzada Saeed and others were also present at the occasion.

Swat Kidney Hospital

CM Mahmood has directed to resolve the problems and remove the irritants in the Kidney Hospital Swat.

“This (kidney hospital) is a project of national interest and will stay at the top of government priorities,” he said presiding over a meeting which was also participated by K-P Board of Revenue senior member, secretary health, medical superintendent of Kidney Hospital Swat and others.

CM agreed in principle to approve Rs68 million for the project and directed for land acquisition and settling down the legal issues in this regard. The hospital was launched by ex-premier Nawaz Sharif.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2019.