Dam-affected Mohmand gets Rs4.5b

Bajaur, Malkand and Charsadda will be given their share in development schemes

PESHAWAR:

A special development package of Rs4.5 billion has been finalized for Mohmand and adjacent districts affected by the Mohmand Dam Project. A share of 86 per cent of the total development package has been allocated for district Mohmand, eight per cent for district Bajaur, three per cent for Malakand and three per cent of the package has been allocated for district Charsadda. The share of the said districts has been worked out as per their share of land affected by the Mohmand Dam Project.

This was decided at a high level meeting held here with Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in the chair on Tuesday. Corps Commander Peshawar Lt General Nauman Mehmood, Additional Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Principal Secretary to CM Amjad Ali Khan, administrative Secretaries of departments concerned and others attended the meeting.

The meeting was given a detailed briefing on various aspects of the special development package prepared for the areas affected by Mohmand Dam Project. Under the package a number of public welfare development projects in different sectors have been proposed.

It was informed that under the package 132 KV grid station would also be constructed in district Mohmand with an estimated cost of Rs700 million. The project would facilitate more than 1.5 lakh population of the area. Similarly, Rs700 million would be spent on widening and rehabilitation of 30 km long road in Tehsil Prang Ghar.

It was further informed that a 6km long road would be constructed at a cost of Rs75 million in Tehsil Pindiali of district Mohmand. Under the package different projects worth Rs236 million would be initiated in the education sector whereas Rs135 million would be spent on the health sector schemes in district Mohmand.

It was also decided that various projects costing Rs60 million would be completed in sports sector for the district. Besides a number of quick impact projects were also part of development package which would be completed at a total cost of Rs175 million.

The meeting was informed that all the developmental schemes under the package had been finalized in consultation with elected public representatives and local elders of the affected areas. The meeting decided to constitute a Joint Steering Committee to be headed by Additional Chief Secretary to ensure quick implementation of the development schemes. The chief minister ordered a comprehensive action plan along with realistic timelines in order to ensure timely progress on the developmental schemes proposed under the package. “All the concerned departments would have to ensure visible progress on their respective projects as per the stipulated timelines so that people could get benefits of the development package without any delay”, he directed.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2021.