ADB assures support for rehabilitation of rural roads

CM seeks early completion of farm to market connectivity


Our Correspondent March 02, 2019
PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE

PESHAWAR: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has assured of all out support to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government in the reconstruction of road network in the rural areas of the province, particularly the newly merged districts (NMDs) of ex-Fata.

ADB Country Director Xiaohong Yang and his team held a detailed meeting with K-P Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, provincial ministers and top bureaucrats regarding funding of the road rehabilitation project.

According to a statement, the ADB representatives said the bank has already pledged allocation and financial assistance for the rehabilitation.

Chief Minister Mahmood Khan presided over the meeting held to review the reconstruction and rehabilitation of farm to market roads initiated in the province in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank.

The meeting also focused on the road communication network in the newly merged districts (NMDs) of the erstwhile Fata.

The meeting made a number of decisions for the smooth reconstruction and rehabilitation of road communication network in the whole of the province including the newly merged districts.

The meeting took place in the Chief Minister Secretariat was also attended by Minister for C&W Akbar Ayub, Additional Chief Secretary Shehzad Bangash, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mohammad Israr, Commissioner Peshawar Shahab Ali Shah, Secretary Finance Shakeel Qadar, Secretary C&W and Country Director Asian Development Bank Xiaohong Yang.

They focused on the 700-km long four dozen rural roads initiated in the province in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank. The meeting made a number of decisions for a comprehensive road communication network integrating the whole of the province including the districts of erstwhile Fata.

The chief minister asked the participants of the meeting to design an integrated development project for NMDs covering the economic revival and growth comprising on areas such as water taping, farming, irrigation and agriculture productivity.

"We want to carry out the developmental exercise in NMDs under the definite aim to generate trade and commercial activities giving incentive to both the foreign investors for industrialisation and exploitation of the natural advantages of these areas thus generating economic activities and employment opportunity for the benefit of the erstwhile Fata," he added.

The ADB representatives assured all out supports for the projects in the rural areas affected by different natural calamities in the province.

The reconstruction and rehabilitation would be completed under time lines. There are 25 bridges on the 700 long km roads affected by earth quick and flood previously.

ADB has already pledged allocation and financial assistance for the rehabilitation. A certain amount of roads reconstruction and rehabilitation in the erstwhile Fata would also be supported by ADB, its representatives assured the meeting.

Mahmood Khan underlined the need for initiating developmental activities in the newly merged districts in order to bring these areas and the people to the national stream of development.

The merger has opened these areas for developmental activities and the provincial government was committed to undertake both developmental and welfare activities for the benefit of the people and development of these areas.

The meeting also discussed the phase-II of Kurum Tangi projects bringing under consideration different dimensions and the process of implementation of the project. The meeting was kept abreast of emerging avenues in agriculture, energy, water management and other in the newly merged districts, which the chief minister advised to take for consideration for the expeditious development of tribal areas as a part of the integration of these areas into the rest of the province. The micro hydroelectric projects would soon be handed over to the community for their management and operationalisation.

The CM was briefed about the process of solarisation of schools and BHUs. The participants also highlighted the new model of rural roads which was durable one and which has been given to the ADB for onward progress.

Mahmood underlined the need for improved rural roads network and farm to market roads in order to facilitate the locally produced agriculture products to the market. The entire road communication throughout the province would be interlinked and interconnected. The meeting also welcomed ADB assistance for Mohmand Dam. The reconstruction and rehabilitation of Mardan Swabi roads in collaboration with the ADB would be taken in hand shortly.

The CM was informed that procurement for the solarisation of different project has already taken place and would be completed soon.

He asked for progress by next week adding that a meeting would be convened to review the stages of progress and the status of implementation on these projects.

PTI MPA-elect

CM Mahmood on Friday congratulated Ahmad Hussain Shah on his election as MPA from PK-30 Mansehra in the by-election held the other day.

Senators Azam Swati and Fida Hussain, KP Minister for Finance Taimur Salim Jahgra and MNA Saleh Mohammad Khan were also present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister said that the by-election has proved the confidence of the people over the policies of PTI-led government both in the Province and the Centre. He hoped that PTI will prove itself upto the expectation of the people at large.

Afridi calls on Mahmood

Leading an extended delegation of the people of Hangu and Kohat Federal Minister Shehreyar Afridi and Advisor to CM on Education Ziaullah Bangash Friday called on the CM Mahmood in Islamabad Friday.

KP Minister for Finance Taimur Salim Jahgra and Senator Fida Hussain were also present on the occasion.

They apprised and discussed the problems of the people of Kohat and Hangu with the chief executive of the province.

CM said that people have a lot of expectation from the PTI leadership. Therefore, they were making every effort to prove up to these expectations and thus working round the clock to resolve the long standing problems of the people on permanent basis.

He said that he will soon convene an extended meeting of both the local representatives of the two districts as well as the public servants so that a proper strategy is worked out for the resolution of these longstanding problems and welfare of the general masses there.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2019.

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