K-P PDWP approves 16 projects worth over Rs15.39 billion

Projects to build small dams, road networks and rehabilitation centres approved

PESHAWAR: The Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) of the province on Tuesday approved as many as 16 projects worth Rs15.391 billion.

The PDWP met in Peshawar on Tuesday with Planning and Development Department Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary Atif Rehman in the chair. The forum considered 16 projects in different sectors including home, multi-sectoral development, relief and rehabilitation, small dams, roads and bridges and drainage, water supply and sanitation (DWSS) sectors for the uplifting of the province.

The forum approved 16 Projects with an estimated cost of Rs15.391 billion.

In the home sector, the forum approved a revised plan of building a de-radicalization and rehabilitation centre in the tribal districts and the de-radicalization centre Sabaoon-II.

In the multi-sectoral development sector, it also approved projects of establishing a support unit in the planning and development department and the provision for clearing contractors’ accrued liabilities, land compensation and un-cashed cheques.

It also approved the restoration of the flood-damaged Chitral-Boni Road.

In the relief and rehabilitation sector, the projects approved included the establishment of an emergency rescue services (Rescue 1122) centre in Swat and the establishment of an emergency rescue service in Lower Dir District apart from enhancing the capacity of the Rescue 1122.

Moreover, it included an economic revitalization plan in the North Waziristan tribal district to compensate for the “business lost”.

The Gandao small dam in Mohmand Agency was also approved by the PDWP.

For the roads and bridges sector, the forum approved a revised feasibility study and design for the construction of an 18.325 kilometres-long bypass road from Ayub Bridge in Havellian (N-35) to Dhamtour in Abbottabad.

It further approved a project to improve and widen a 6.5km Suraj Gali Hattar Road in Haripur.

To strengthen the east-west Connectivity of the newly-merged tribal districts (NMTDs) with settled districts, a project concept-II (PC-II) to conduct a feasibility study and design of an alternate frontier road from the Indus Highway (N-55) to Jamrud in the Khyber tribal district was approved.

The design and construction of the 4.283km Toormor Lodhi Post and the 1.12km Spina Soka Postroads in Khyber tribal district were also approved. The construction of the Ghar Kalay (Shuhada Road) Mitha Khel, in Karak district was also okayed.

For the DWSS sector, a project on rehabilitating, extending and solarising the existing PHE facilities in the Mohmand tribal district, construction of a water supply and sanitation scheme in Bakka Khel tehsil and adjoining areas of Bannu district and water supply and sanitation schemes in UC Shawar, Biha, Gwalarai, Arkot, Purkalay, Koza Bandai, Bara Bandai, village council Labat and Shalband in PK-8 of Swat were approved. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2019.