‘Work on Karak Oil Refinery to start this year’

CM Mahmood Khan inaugurates several projects, announces others while visiting the district

KARAK: The provincial government on Saturday assured that construction work a new oil refinery in Karak will commence before the ongoing fiscal year ends.

This was stated by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Saturday, during a day-long visit to Karak where he inaugurated multiple uplift projects.

Addressing a public gathering, the chief minister announced several projects, including one where schools of the district will be powered using solar panels while a sports complex will be established in the district. Moreover, construction and strengthening of roads in various parts of the district were also announced.

During his visit, CM Mahmood inaugurated an extension and rehabilitation of the gas project in the district at an estimated cost of Rs1.9 billion for its first phase. The total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs9 billion. The project includes the rehabilitation of a 65 kilometre-long gas pipeline. The project is expected to benefit as many as 150,000 locals.

The chief minister further said that the development of backward areas was a top priority for the incumbent government, without which the overall development and prosperity of the province was not possible.

“The provincial government will fight for the gas, oil and electricity rights of the district on every platform and will ensure that gas royalty funds are spent on the development of the district,” he assured.

The chief minister further said that the government has ensured the inclusion of the Peshawar-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway in the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which will help boost the economy of southern districts and the newly-merged tribal districts (NMTDs).

Mahmood further vowed the provision of 100 per cent coverage to residents of the area under the government’s health insurance plan, Sehat Insaf Card. The project, he said, is expected to be completed by July, this year.

Under the insurance plan, free medical treatment of up to Rs1 million will be provided, he added.

CM Mahmood went on to inaugurate work on filtration channel, pipelines and sump wells for various areas. These projects are expected to be completed at an estimated cost of Rs3 billion and are expected to be completed within six months.

The water supply project is expected to benefit some 15,000 locals and will provide approximately 250,000 gallons of clean drinking water to the Zarkai Nasrati, Siraj Khel, Chowkara, Takth Nasrati and Khada Banda areas of Karak.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2020.