K-P to move SC over stalled federal funds

CM Mahmood says Centre also stopped finances for the newly merged tribal districts

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has warned the federal government his administration will take up the issue of non-release of fund with the Supreme Court of Pakistan if the province is not provided its due rights.

He said that the federal government has also stopped the current and development funds of the newly merged tribal districts.

He was talking to journalists on Thursday as he inaugurated the newly completed mega development projects including international standard Hayatabad Cricket Stadium with state-of-the-art facilities and modular operation theaters at the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) Peshawar.

The cricket stadium, having four-storied pavilion building, will also have allied facilities including general public stands, steel fence, RCC drain, pavement/walkway, digital scoreboard and security arrangements etc.

So far Rs603.30 million out of the total estimated cost of Rs993 million have been spent on the establishment of the cricket stadium.

Briefing about the project, the participants were informed that 10,000 extra seating capacity has been added under the upgradation of Hayatabad Sports Complex.

It was further disclosed that an MoU between the Pakistan Cricket Board and the provincial sports department has been signed with the purpose to arrange international and PSL cricket matches.

Meanwhile during his visit to LRH, the chief minister formally inaugurated the newly established five modular operation theatres which have been completed at a cost of Rs76 million.

Additional 25 modular operation theaters would also be completed soon.

The modular operation theatres will be 99 per cent anti-microbial with state-of-the-art facilities.

The chief minister also inaugurated the headquarters of the Bank of Khyber (BoK) and the newly established block of Khyber College of Dentistry which have been completed at a cost of Rs1.29 billion and Rs580 million respectively.

BoK managing director presented a cheque of Rs20 million collected under the chief minister flood relief fund to the CM.

Talking to media persons at Hayatabad Sports Complex, Khan said that PTI’s provincial government has prioritized the sports sector by increasing its development allocation from Rs390 million in 2013-14 to Rs6.2 billion in 2022-23.

He added that in order to provide recreational and healthy opportunities to the youth, his government has undertaken record development projects during the last four years.

The provincial government has established sports complexes at divisional headquarters alongside sports grounds at district, tehsil & union council level with the aim to engage the youth in healthy activities and promote positive image of the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2022.