PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is going to establish two mega cities, including one along Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway near Colonel Sher Khan Interchange and the other at Abbottabad, which would have all modern facilities.

Chairing a meeting of officials of provincial housing department at his office on Tuesday, he said that it was the vision of PTI chairman Imran Khan to provide modern residential facilities to people of the province at affordable prices.

Secretary housing department briefed the participants on various aspects of the mega city projects.

The project of a proposed mega city on M-1 will be completed at an estimated cost of Rs45.8 billion over 45,000 kanals. This city will have modern civic facilities, including education complex, medical complex, five-star hotel, commercial zone, police station, mosques, apartments, golf course, theme parks, petrol/CNG stations, playgrounds, green belts, wide roads, electricity, Sui gas etc. It will serve a population of over 602,130.

Speaking at the meeting, the chief minister directed the authorities concerned to prepare the final plan of this important project within 15 days so that it could be approved formally.

He said that the proposed mega city would be the first of its kind in the province and country. The meeting was informed that because of its unique and important location the mega city would become a hub of commercial and business activities. Public-private partnership or any other feasible mode of implementation will be adopted for the project.

Mr Khattak asked the authorities of housing department to take necessary steps for acquisition of land for the mega city at Abbottabad.

Special assistant to the CM on housing department Amjad Afridi, additional chief secretary planning and development Khalid Pervez, additional chief secretary finance Sahibzada Saeed, secretary housing Zahid Arif, in-charge investment cell Rafaqullah Babar, deputy commissioner Nowshera and other authorities concerned attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, the chief minister inaugurated the monsoon tree plantation campaign 2013 by planting a sapling at the lawns of CM House, Peshawar.

Provincial senior minister Sirajul Haq, secretary environment Saeed Badshah, chief conservator forest and other relevant officials were also present on the occasion.