peshawar - Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has termed the proposed Peshawar-D.I. Khan Motorway project as of vital importance for the sustainable development of the province, particularly the southern districts and said the provincial government would utilise all available resources to execute the project. The government, he said, was determined to start practical work on the project within its tenure.
Addressing a meeting regarding Peshawar-D.I. Khan Motorway project through video link, he said the government was considering all available options for the funding of the project.
The meeting was attended besides others by Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission and concerned federal and provincial authorities. The Chief Minister stressed upon the clearance of financial and technical feasibility of the project in the upcoming meeting of Central Development Working Party (CDWP). He said the government would go all-out to ensure funding for the project and would utilise all available sources for the purpose.
The Provincial Development Working Party had already approved PC-1 of the project and it was forwarded to Central Development Working Party (CDWP) for final approval.
The forum while agreeing in principle to get Peshawar-D.I. Khan Motorway project approved from the CDWP, directed the concerned federal and provincial authorities to thrash out the financial, technical and commercial feasibility of the project within 10 days.
Federal Minister Asad Umar assured the Chief Minister that the federal government would extend all-out support to the provincial government for the accelerated execution of the project. The forum also held a threadbare discussion on the proposed projects of the provincial government for inclusion in next year Public Sector Development Programme and it was agreed that the prioritised development projects of the provincial government would be reflected in the upcoming PSDP.
Meanwhile, talking to Minister for Labour & Culture Shaukat Yousafzai, the chief minister has decided in principle to carry out feasibility study for the construction of Khwazakhela-Bisham Expressway and has said that construction of the expressway is need of the day and a long-standing demand of the people of district Shangla.
He said that once the feasibility was carried out, further progress would be made in the light of feasibility report.
Keeping in view travelling difficulties of the people, Shaukat Yousafzai requested the Chief Minister for conducting feasibility study for the construction of Khwazakhela-Bisham Expressway. The Chief Minister, while agreeing in principle to conduct feasibility study for the project, directed the quarters concerned to take all necessary steps in this regard.
The Chief Minister, while terming the proposed Khwazakhela-Bisham Expressway as of vital importance for sustainable development of the area, said the provincial government was serious about creating employment opportunities for the youth by promoting tourism activities in Shangla district. He said the government was taking pragmatic steps under a well devised strategy to develop all districts equally and to bring less developed districts at par with the developed ones.
Mahmood Khan said that despite financial constraints due to COVID-19 maximum relief would be given to vulnerable segments of the society in the next budget and Annual Development Programme (ADP) would be designed keeping in view public issues and needs of the projects. He said that increase in the salaries of government employees, raising minimum monthly wage for daily wagers, provision of honorarium to Aiama-e-Masajid and other pro-poor steps would be the part of next year budget.
