PESHAWAR, Nov 27: Leaders of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal have said that NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani’s visit to Swabi and announcement of a development package will boost the proces of development in the neglected district.

NWFP Education Minister Maulana Fazl Ali Haqqani and Jamaat-i-Islami general secretary Mushtaq Ahmad Khan said at a press conference that it was the first exclusive visit to the district by a chief minister.

Maulana Haqqani said the chief minister had announced projects worth Rs2 billion.

The Jamaat leader said people of the district would vote for the MMA in the next elections.

"If Mr Durrani contests from Swabi, he will win remarkably," he claimed.

Maulana Haqqani said the most important announcement made by the chief minister was that of giving the status of tehsil to Topi, which would benefit the dwellers of remote areas of the district, including the villages around Gadoon Amazai. Another important project announced by the chief minister was of dualisation of the 50km-long Jehangira-Swabi road, which would be completed in three years with an estimated cost of Rs920 million.

The chief minister inaugurated the Fazle Ali Model School, where admissions from nursery to class III had begun. "The school will be built over 200 kanals at a cost of Rs150 million, where modern education will be imparted at low fees," the minister said. He said the chief minister had announced a grant of Rs2 million for the school.

The chief minister inaugurated THE Lahore-Adeena Road and a rural health centre in Tor Dher. Projects of the Government College Swabi-II, a veterinary hospital in Tor Dher, a bridge to Beesak Garhi in Gadoon, a bridge near Tandakohi, a road to Naranji village, a bridge to a religious school in Manerai, a press club building and a rest house were announced during the visit.

Mr Durrani directed the authorities concerned to immediately release Rs150 million for development of tobacco growing areas, which would be compensated in tobacco cess later.