Urban areas development authority set up in K-P

PESHAWAR: To improve the provision of basic amenities to the public, the provincial government has decided to set up the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Urban Areas Development Authority (UDA).

To be established through an ordinance, the new authority will keep oversight over the existing nine development authorities in the province and ensure they work efficiently.

In a statement on Monday, Special Assistant to K-P Chief Minister for Local Government, Elections and Rural Development Kamran Bangash said that the provincial government’s priority is to deliver services to the people.

Talking about the UDA, he said that it has been set up to improve the performance of the provincial local government department. He added that under the incumbent Urban Development Board, the development authorities in Mardan, Swabi, Bannu, Karak, Kohat, Galiyat, Swat and Peshawar are paralysed.

Reiterating that the incumbent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is devising legislation to empower the development authorities, the new authority will enable the development authorities to take steps for the welfare of employees including revenue generation and decision making.

Moreover, the special assistant said that under the UDA, the development authorities will be able to come up with plans for affordable housing societies.

Additionally, Bangash said that they are setting up development authorities in Lower Dir and Kalam to provide better services to residents for sanitation, drainage and clean drinking water.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2020.