Rs500m uplift package detailed for Upper Dir

Mahmood inaugurates model high school in district

PESHAWAR: The provincial government on Wednesday announced a special development package worth Rs500 million for the Upper Dir including the construction of bridges, an engineering university, a fire brigade and other projects.

This was announced by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Wednesday while addressing a public gathering in Upper Dir where former MPA and ex Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) district leaders Anwar Khan and Jehangir Khan announced to join the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) along with their supporters.

Mahmood welcomed the former lawmakers into the party and said that for the first time, the people of K-P had rejected the PPP, which is evidence of the fact the people of the province believe in the governance strategy of the PTI.

Addressing the public gathering, Mahmood accosted political opponents, stating that corrupt political mafias had looted public money, leaving every child of the province and the country in debt with zero development and no initiative which would help generate revenue.

By contrast, he said that the incumbent government was taking pragmatic measures for generating revenue by establishing industrial zones, strengthening communication networks, attracting investors by providing them with a conducive environment, provision cheap electricity, promoting tourism and strengthening cross-border trade with neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan.

In this regard, Mahmood recalled that the government was completing work on the second phase of the Swat Motorway, the Peshawar-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway, the Chitral-Chakdara Road, the Chashma Lift Irrigation Scheme, and other similar schemes.

The chief minister went on to announce a comprehensive developmental package for Upper Dir, including the provision of salary package to the special police force as per package of regular police officers, starting construction on the campus of the Engineering University, constructing a building to house the district press club, providing Rs200 million for building two bridges, solarising mosques, setting up a degree college, a fire brigade, and building new roads in the district apart from completing work on ongoing roads.

He also announced release developmental funds for ongoing schemes in the district and the early completion of the Kumrat road.

The chief minister negated what he termed was propaganda by vested elements on social media platforms against the government and the ruling party. Mahmood went on to state that they were re-elected by the people of the province because of their performance and that they will go into the 2023 general elections on basis of its performance during its current term.

He further assured those attending the gathering that the provincial government is focused on the development of backward areas of the province, especially the newly-merged tribal districts (NMTDs) which have been left out from the development process for decades.

Earlier during his visit to the district, Mahmood inaugurated a newly-built Government Centennial Model High School, which has been constructed at an estimated cost of Rs35.75 million. The school can accommodate some 1,300 students and 1,000 students have already been enrolled.

The chief minister further announced to power the school using solar panels, build a playground for its students and to provide staff for grade IV in the school.

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