Haripur, Upper Dir to soon get cadet colleges

PDWP approves 34 projects worth Rs50b

PESHAWAR:

The provincial government on Friday approved feasibility studies for the construction of cadet colleges in the Haripur and Upper Dir districts of the province amid 34 projects worth a total of Rs50.186 billion.

This was deliberated and approved during the seventh meeting of the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) on Friday. The party met under the chairmanship of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Planning and Development Department’s Additional Chief Secretary Shakeel Khan.

The forum considered 41 schemes about industries, mines and minerals, elementary and secondary education, higher education, agriculture, information, local government, health, multi-sectoral development, roads, water and finance sectors.

The forum approved 34 schemes at an estimated cost of Rs50.186 billion while seven schemes were deferred due to inadequate designs and were returned to their respective departments for rectification.

Among the schemes approved in the industries, sector included the provision of gas and independent electric feeders in existing SIDB Small Industrial Estates (SIEs) in K-P, development of an SIE on the Bannu-Miranshah Road in North Waziristan under the accelerated integration programme (AIP), a feasibility study and establishment of industrial estates in the merged districts under the AIP.

In the mines and minerals sector, a scheme to establish a mining cadastral system was approved.

For the Auqaf sector, a project to build capacity and skill development of students of madrassahs was approved.

In the elementary and secondary education sector, feasibility studies for the establishment of cadet colleges in Haripur and Dir Upper were approved.

Further, the PDWP approved a project to establish some 100 primary schools in K-P. Moreover, it approved a project to upgrade 100 high schools to the higher secondary level (for boys and girls) on a need basis.

Moreover, a project to build examination halls in schools on a need basis was approved under AIP.

The PDWP approved the provision of stipends and scholarships for students of merged tribal districts under the AIP in the higher education sector. Other programmes approved for the sector include the strengthening of Bachelors of Studies (BS) undergraduate programmes under AIP. Further, existing colleges will be provided with adequate staff under the AIP.

Government degree colleges will be established in the settled districts on a need basis with a sub-scheme to set up a Government Girls Degree College in the Matta Khararai areas of Swat.

In the agriculture sector, the scheme to set up the Agriculture University of Swat was approved.

In the local government sector, a municipal services delivery project - assisted by USAID was approved. It will include the establishment of a Project Management Unit.

Moreover, the PDWP approved the construction of slaughterhouses in selected tehsils of K-P.

Further, bus terminals would be established at the tehsil level in K-P during the fiscal year 2020-21. In this regard, sources said that the project concept-I (PC-I) submitted to the PDWP showed a total cost of Rs181.304 million but in the Annual Development Programme (ADP), its cost was reflected as Rs600 million.

Other projects include the construction of a fruit and vegetable market in selected tehsils of K-P and development works in Peshawar’s union councils including 36,42, 43, 44, 48, 64, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 80, and 92.

Approved schemes of the finance sector included the capacity building and strengthening of the finance department.

In the health sector, a scheme to rebuild the Barikot Hospital and upgrading the Chuprial rural health centre (RHC) in Swat into a category-D hospital.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2020.