K-P CM Mahmood Khan. PHOTO: PTI
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Thursday chaired separate meetings at the Chief Minister House in Peshawar.
In a meeting on the special economic zone, Mahmood said that no extension will be granted in the holding the formal groundbreaking of the project.
“All stakeholders should fulfil their responsibilities in time so that the project can be executed at a rapid pace, as per priorities of the provincial government,” Mahmood directed as he sought to convene a high-level meeting of relevant authorities next week to ensure the timely provision of electric power and gas to industrialists.
The meeting was briefed about the Joint venture, frameworks of concession and development agreements for the special economic zone (SEZ), the expected economic impact of the project and the overall progress made so far on the project.
The meeting was told that development work on the SEZ is expected to be completed in a phased manner with the project being implemented under the public-private partnership. Construction of access roads has already begun while a project concept-I (PC-I) worth Rs1.8 billion to provide electric power to the industrial zone has been approved by the DDWP.
Similarly, a PC-I for supplying gas to the industrial area has been presented to the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL).
Officials, however, called for timely cooperation from the relevant federal departments to provide these facilities.
Mahmood emphasised the need to expedite all arrangements, including approval of the development agreement from the Board of Approval so that the development work on the project can be formally inaugurated. He further directed the Economic Zones Development and Management Company to undertake pragmatic steps for meeting deadlines, adding that no extension will be given.
In a separate meeting with the Minister of State for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Shaheryar Afridi and Leader of the House in Senate Shibli Faraz, Mahmood took notice of delays in development works being carried out in Kohat.
During the meeting, Afridi briefed the chief minister about the sufferings of Kohat residents due to incomplete projects across the district. The dilapidated state of roads in the district, he said, was a major reason for the traffic mess in the city.
The chief minister directed the relevant authorities to immediately give ownership rights to slum dwellers in Jerma Shahpur, Chambai, Behzadi Chakargoth and Gandiali. A senior member of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Board of Revenue was told to furnish a report within in 15 days.
A summary to construct the building for the Gumbat Tehsil administration worth Rs230 million was also approved.
Afridi told the chief minister that the central square in Kohat city needs to be widened to accommodate the increasing flow of traffic. He added that the authorities of the nearby cantonment have also agreed to provide some of its lands for the purpose. The CM directed the finance department to clear payments so that the road can be widened to prevent traffic from choking at the spot. He further directed officials to complete construction of the Nizampur Road.
He also directed to build the KDA Road via Shiakhan to Pindi. He also directed to rehabilitate Billi Tang Toi Bund. Agriculture schemes identified under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) were also approved, directing authorities to allot Kohat a major share to build check dams and ponds.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2019.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ