PDWP approves 42 projects worth Rs24b

Gives consent to the construction of cycling velodrome in Peshawar, a feasibility study for motorsports track

PESHAWAR: The Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) has approved 42 projects with an estimated cost of Rs24 billion.

Among the approved projects was construction of a cycling velodrome in Peshawar and a feasibility study for motor sports arena in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The approval was given in a meeting of PDWP held its meeting under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary Dr Shahzad Khan Bangash on Friday.

The meeting was attended by Planning and Development Department Secretary Atif Rehman, members of PDWP and representative of tribal districts. The forum considered 45 projects of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and merged areas pertaining to different sectors including health, law & justice, home, multi-sectoral development, local government, relief and rehabilitation, energy and power, agriculture, roads and bridges, water, sports and tourism, elementary and secondary education, industries and ST&IT sectors for the uplift of the province.

One project was recommended for inclusion in PSDP 2019-20 and two projects were deferred due to inadequate designs and were returned to their respective departments for rectification.

The approved projects of Health sector were "Establishment of Safe Blood Transfusion Project, Construction of two Lecture Theaters, Auditorium, Building for Prosthodontics, Tube Well & Overhead Tank in Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar, Maternal Newborn & Child Health Program in Fata, National Programme for Family Planning & Primary Health Care in All Tribal Districts/Sub Divisions.”

Approved projects of Law & Justice sector were "feasibility study and Construction of Tehsil Judicial Complexes in five Selected Districts on Priority Basis (Paharpur, Draband, Oghi, Havelian and Hangu), additional facilities and improvement of infrastructure of existing judicial complexes, feasibility study for establishment of judicial complex at Dargai (Malakand), Thall (Hangu), Shabqadar (Charsadda), Tank, Totalai (Buner) and Kulachi (DI Khan)."

Approved project of Home Department was "feasibility study and construction of police station Tehkal, Peshawar, PS Matta Swat, PS Zaida Swabi, PS Gambila, PS Takhtikhel, PS Shah Hassan Khel, PS Bragi, PP Arsala, PP Manjiwala-Lakki, PS Misri Banda, PS Akora-Nowshera, Model PSs at Swabi, Mardan and Charsadda cities (CM Directive)".

Approved projects of sports sector were "Establishment of cycling velodrome in Peshawar (PC-II), feasibility study for establishment of motor sports arena in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (PC-II), promotion/holding of sports activities in K-P".

Approved project of Elementary & Secondary Education sector were "Development of Play Areas in Primary Schools of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, conversion of existing High performing Schools into school of excellence in Merged Areas (B) Standardisation of existing 21 Higher Secondary Schools, Provision of Free Text Books to the students upto Class-V in all Government schools in FATA (During 2018-19), Provision of Free Text Books to the students from class 6th to 12th in FATA (2018-19).”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2019.