PDWP approves 39 uplift schemes worth Rs16.47b

Forum okays Rs0.94b for upgrade of Hayatabad Cricket Stadium

PESHAWAR:

The provincial government on Monday approved 39 schemes in the province at an estimated cost of Rs16.471 billion.

The uplift projects were approved during the eighth meeting of the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP). Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Additional Chief Secretary Shakil Qadir Khan presided over the meeting.

The forum cleared a scheme and recommended seeking approval for it from the Central Development Working Party (CDWP), while two schemes were deferred and returned to their respective departments for rectification and rationalisation.

Schemes approved in the social welfare sector were the establishment of detoxification and rehabilitation centres for drug addicts in Khyber and Orakzai districts, which straddle the border with Afghanistan.

Even though the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has ruled out the possibility of holding matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Peshawar at the moment, the meeting approved a project to upgrade the Hayatabad Sports Complex in Peshawar for Rs0.94 billion. Further, it approved a project to build a cricket stadium with all allied facilities in the Kalam valley for Rs0.6 billion.

Schemes approved in the culture sector included a project to build the capacity of the K-P Culture and Tourism Authority (K-PCTA). The meeting also okayed a scheme for the construction, rehabilitation, upgrade and asset management of youth properties in the province.

The establishment of a tourism police force for tourist spots of the province was also approved.

The forum gave its approval for an instructional and physical training programme in tribal areas, establishment and development of tourist destinations, tourism information centres, picnic spots and rest areas, protection and management of archaeological and cultural heritage under the Accelerated Implementation Programme (AIP).

Schemes approved in the forestry sectors included conservation of biodiversity and promotion of eco-tourism through livelihood improvement in Sheikh Buddin National Park.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2020.