PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has directed the quarters concerned to take pragmatic steps to ensure progress on the ongoing mega development projects as per the stipulated timelines adding that the provincial government desired to complete maximum of the mega development projects within the next two years at all costs.
“Any kind of delay, laxity and negligence would not be tolerated to this effect”, he said and warned that no one responsible for such laxity would be spared. He directed that actual progress on these projects instead of progress on papers is required to complete the projects within the stipulated timelines further adding that the ultimate goal of the government was to facilitate the people for which all the government authorities would have to fulfill their responsibilities in letter and spirit.
He issued these directives while chairing a meeting held here on Thursday to review progress on the development projects in the province. Senior Member Board of Revenue Zafar Ali Shah, Principal Secretary to CM Amjad Ali Khan, Administrative Secretaries of concerned departments and other relevant officials attended the meeting.
Briefing about the ongoing development projects in health sector, it was informed that six different healthcare facilities in merged areas have been outsourced whereas work on the outsourcing of other six health facilities was in progress. Similarly, work on the first phase of the project “Revamping of 32 District Headquarter Hospitals” has also been started. Revamping of all 32 DHQs would be completed within the next two years at a total estimated cost of Rs. 15 billion. A project worth 1.7 billion for conversion of 200 BHUs into 24/7 facilities had been approved, while in first phase Rs. 110 Million has been released for the conversion of 41 BHUs into 24/7 facilities.
Similarly, another project for conversion of 50 RHCs into 24/7 facilities was approved with the total cost of Rs. 1.2 billion, in first phase Rs. 110 Million has been released for the conversion of 25 RHCs into 24/7 facilities. Briefing about the development projects in education sector, it was told that so far 160 schools had been identified for double shift classes while a project worth Rs. 3.8 billion was approved for the provision of missing facilities in government schools. It was added that a project for the establishment of Cadet College in Haripur and Dir would be placed before the Provincial Development Working Party in its next meeting.
Touching upon the communications sector projects, the meeting was informed that land acquisition for Swat Motorway Phase-II was in progress while Peshawar – D.I. Khan and Dir Motorways projects had been cleared from Central Development Working Party. It was further told that 78% work on 18 km long Dhamtor Bypass road was completed. Work on construction of Thal-Mir Ali road is underway and the project would be completed at the cost of Rs. 5.8 billion. The meeting was briefed that a project worth Rs. 3 billion had been reflected in current Annual Development Program for the construction of Patrak-Thal-Kumrat road.
Besides, land acquisition for the construction of Chitral-Ayun-bamboreet and Chitral-Garam Chashma roads is also in progress. The meeting was further told that a consultant has been hired for the feasibility study and engineering design of Chashma Right Lift Bank Canal (CRBC). While briefing the meeting about progress on projects in energy sector, it was told that section-IV had been enforced for land acquisition for 300 mega watt Balakot Hydro Power Project adding that land acquisition for Kalam-Gabral Hydro Power Project was also in progress. A consultant had been hired for setting up 157 Mega Watt Madyan Hydro Power project. So far 2343 Masajids were solarized out of 4000 under solarization of Masajids project. Construction of access road to Rashakai Special Economic Zone had been completed while 90% work on provision of utilities to the Economic Zone had also been completed.
A feasibility study was also being carried out for the establishment of Bannu Economic Zone. PC-1 for the first phase of Darabin Economic Zone has been designed. In tourism sector, work on construction of 11 different access roads to tourists spots in Malakand division was in progress while a master plan for the establishment of four Integrated Tourism Zones had been prepared.
The meeting was told that the ground breaking of new general bus stand in Peshawar was expected in the first week of October this year while PC-1 of KP Cities Improvement Project had been approved from PDWP.