All new tube-wells in K-P to be solarised

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has said that completing ongoing development projects within the stipulated timelines is the priority of the government and all new tube-wells will use solar power in the future.

A meeting regarding development projects was held here at Chief Minister House the other day, with Chief Minister Khyber in the chair.

Additional Chief Secretary Planning & Development Syed Imtiaz Hussain Shah, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Amjad Ali Khan, Secretary P&D Shahidullah and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

The participants were briefed about the progress so far made on the development projects being executed in the various sectors under District Development Program. He said that special attention would be given to providing facilities to people instead of making investment in the construction of new buildings; services delivery mechanism in already established institutions would be improved for this purpose.

He said that pragmatic steps would be taken to ensure that the citizens are provided with clean drinking water and other basic facilities.

He directed initiating work on installing tube wells in the areas, where clean drinking water facility is not available further directing that work on the solarization of those tube wells should also be started simultaneously.

He made it clear that there would be no compromise on the quality of development projects. Action would be taken against the responsible authorities in case of substandard and unsatisfactory development works, he added.

It may be recalled that a A delegation of UNICEF headed by Abdullah Fadil, called on Chief Minister Khyber Thursday and discussed with him matters of mutual interest with special focus on public welfare activities being carried out in the province with the assistance of UNICEF.

Prospects for further expanding mutual cooperation and partnership between UNICEF and the provincial government were also discussed in the meeting.

Speaking on this occasion, the chief minister said that UNICEF is playing an important role for the public welfare in the province. He said that incumbent provincial government also intends to further enhance and expand this partnership to some other sectors including upgradation of schools, supply of clean drinking water, sewerage, solarization of schools, madaris, tube wells and deserving households in the province.

Touching upon the priorities of his government regarding development of newly merged districts, the chief minister said that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa especially merged areas had been affected badly during the war against terrorism. That is why, he said that the provincial government expect special cooperation from its development partner for providing relief to people of newly merged districts.

He made it clear that fast track development of newly merged districts is the priority area of the provincial government adding that, despite the numerous challenges and difficult financial situation, special efforts are being made for this purpose; and that is why the government also need special cooperation from international donor agencies and developmental partners in this regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2024.