KHAR: Fata local government and rural development director Faiz Ali Shah on Thursday showed concern over the slow pace of work on the donor-funded development projects in Bajaur Agency and directed the relevant officials to ensure timely execution of the schemes.

He issued the directives during a meeting of senior officials of the administration and multi-donor trust funded development projects here.

Additional Political Agent Tariq Khan, heads of various department, representatives of Tribal Areas Rural to Urban Centres Conversion Initiative and multi-donor organisations and other officers attended the meeting.

The participants reviewed the progress of different ongoing development schemes and projects under the World Bank and other multi-donor agencies in the agency.

Additional political agent Tariq Khan, who supervises development activities in the agency, briefed participants about the work on mega development schemes under the multi-donor organisation.

He said under the multi-donor trust funded project, TARUCCI, around $7 million was being spent to set up urban centre in Khar to improve access of local people to basic and modern facilities.

Tariq said work over construction of roads, water supply schemes and installation of solar streetlights in Khar was in progress, while 450 of the 1,000 planned solar streetlights had been installed in various bazaars and other public places of the town.

He asked the TARUCCI representatives to ensure provision of funds for the project’s execution by the Dec 2014 deadline.

On the occasion, LG&RD director Faiz Ali Shah, who is also TARUCCI project director, feared delay in the completion of development schemes.

He directed the TARUCCI representatives to expedite their efforts to ensure early completion of the schemes saying this would help the people get modern civic facilities.

Shah said the government making all of its efforts to set up urban centre at Khar town aimed to improve access of tribesmen to better facilities.

He said installation of solar streetlights, provision of clean drinking water and setting up modern sewerage system under the TARUCI project in the region would bring visible changes in the life of tribesmen and will also boost the socio-economic condition of the agency.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2014