KOHAT: The provincial government is mulling a plan to establish a women’s university in Kohat with the funds of parliamentarians and Oil and Gas Development Company.

Besides, the project for reconstruction of the 60-year-old Liaquat Memorial Hospital after demolishing its dilapidated structure is also under consideration keeping in view the problems of people of Kohat division.

The hospital project would cost Rs450 million.

The reconstruction of LMH and making it fully functional was a longstanding demand of the people of Kohat, Hangu, Karak, Orakzai Agency and Kurram Agency.

The proposals in this regard have been sent to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for approval and work on these projects is likely to be started in the next financial year, executive district officer Wahidur Rehman Khattak told Dawn when asked about the expected utilisation of oil and gas royalty funds of Kohat.

Most of the machinery and staff of LMH, also known as women and children hospital, had been shifted to the KDA divisional headquarters hospital when it was established 15 years ago.

However, many patients still visit the hospital located in the city centre.

“The hospital will need complete reconstruction to make it fully functional,” said Dr Zainul Abideen.

About utilisation of royalty funds, an official said on condition of anonymity that many projects were in the pipeline like conversion of Tanda Dam into a tourist site like Islamabad Lake View with a cost of Rs200 million.

He said that for the repair of sewer lines, streets and water supply pipelines all the 32 union councils of Kohat would get Rs2 million each, Mr Khattak said.

WATER SHORTAGE: The tube-well installed in Shindand area for providing drinking water to Togh Bala and adjoining localities here has been lying unused since 2003.

The people of Togh Bala recalled said that the tube-well was installed during Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government in the province and after remaining functional for a few days it was closed.

Sources said the electricity transformer installed for running the tube-well was twice stolen.

The residents demanded of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to make the tube-well functional so

that water shortage problem in Togh Bala could be resolved.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2014