PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is not safe and without securing it cities in the country can’t be made safe for people.

He was talking to Joanna Reid, the head of DFID, who along with her delegation called on him at Chief Minister Secretariat here on Wednesday. In her introductory call, the DFID head lauded the commitment and engagement of the provincial government, said a statement.

Explaining security situation in the province, the chief minister said on the occasion that entry points at Miramshah, Angor Adda and Torkham were open for any sort of movement and terrorists involved in the recent Charsadda incident came from across the border.

He said that army, police and provincial government were on same page against terrorism. The provincial government was implementing directives issued by the federal government and there was no problem with centre in that regard, he added. Mr Khattak termed operation Zarb-i-Azab effective in clearing Fata of terrorists. “The incidents of suicide bombing have dropped visibly as there is no hideout for training of terrorists,” he added.

The chief minister said that provincial government was bringing transparency in every department to eliminate corruption and change the system. He said that every sector was being changed and reforms were continued in education and health sectors. “New industries policy has been announced which offers five per cent concession to the investors,” he added.

The chief minister told the delegation that a number of laws had been passed to make things open for the people. He said that government was focusing on the welfare of common people to solve their problems. That’s why police, health and education departments were given priority, he added.

Mr Khattak said that steps were taken to make police station model centres and autonomy was given to district headquarters hospitals to facilitate people. He said that performance of the doctors was being monitored which would bring a change.

The chief minister said that all departments had devolved to district level and 30 per cent of the development funds had also been shifted to local governments. “Now for the first time in the history of the province cleanliness of the villages is also initiated,” he added.

The chief minister informed the delegation that the district governments, tehsil and village councils all had their own allocated funds and demarcated areas to work.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2016