PESHAWAR, Dec 7: The NWFP government on Thursday decided to drop the idea of setting up toll plazas and instead suggested rationalising the existing tax mechanism for generating the resources required for beautifying the city.

Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani termed the construction of toll plazas unjustified because such a move would adversely affect the people who were, according to him, already overburdened due to a lopsided taxation structure.

Mr Durrani claimed that the taxation system was blocking the flow of investment and consequently hurting the growth of business and commercial activities in the province. The government would provide the resources needed for reconstruction of major city roads, he said.

The meeting was attended by chief secretary Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi, IGP Riffat Pasha and Peshawar’s district nazim Ghulam Ali, besides other senior officials, said a handout issued here on Thursday. Various projects, the anti-encroachment drive, different traffic-related problems and government-sponsored housing schemes were discussed at the meeting.

The chief minister agreed to constitute a monitoring team that would help look after the roads and check encroachments in Peshawar. The team would be supported by the police and other law-enforcement departments.

Mr Durrani said he would remove the impediments in beautifying the provincial capital. He added that the provincial government would ask builders to adhere to the relevant by-laws, adding that public sector institutions responsible for construction activities would ensure strict implementation of the same.

The chief minister said that the overall outlook of Peshawar would improve once the development work was completed.

Praising the district government’s efforts for initiating public welfare works, he said that the government’s vision for development was clear and candid, adding that some steps might appear to yield negative results but it was impossible for a responsible government to overlook people’s interest.

Citing Peshawar district government’s efforts for widening of roads, especially near the provincial assembly building and the Governor House, he urged the district Nazim to finish construction work at Circular Road, Charsadda Road and other areas. He assured the district government that the provincial government would provide all possible assistance for widening the Canal Road.

He appreciated the district government’s efforts for raising additional revenue amounting to Rs70 million. Mr Durrani urged the officials concerned to hold a meeting with the secretary of the local government department for acquiring the land needed for a township, the handout said.

He also ordered acquisition of land for the establishment of a park to provide more recreational facilities to the people. He took note of the construction work carried out in violation of building codes and laws.