SWABI: The residents of Chota Lahor tehsil have demanded of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf -led coalition government to launch construction work on the Pehur High Level Canal extension project as soon as possible.

The demand was made at a gathering attended by Qaumi Watan Party MPA Abdul Karim and a large number of local people here on Tuesday. The participants said that they had been hearing about the canal extension project since the PTI assumed power after May 2013 general elections, but work could not be started as yet.

They said that this important project should be given due priority, warning that more delay would not be tolerated.

The MPA said on the occasion that the project costing Rs5 billion would be financed by the Asian Development Bank. He said that the project would bring green revolution in the district, as 200,000 acres of the district would be irrigated with its completion.

He said that in start the project was priority of the QWP-PTI alliance, but regretted that the government had been ignoring it after the alliance fell apart. “I assure you that work on the project would kick off in the current year. We have been pursuing the project,” he claimed.

On this occasion, several members of Gojar families of Chota Lahor joined QWP.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION: Speakers at a meeting here praised the role of dispute resolution council (DRC) in the district.

MPA Shiraz Khan, district police officer Sajjad Khan and members of the DRC attended the meeting. Mr Shiraz claimed that the DRC had resolved over 2,000 disputes related to murders, attempted murders, family feuds, property and business in the past six months.

Mr Sajjad remarked that the role of DRCs had helped them in settling petty disputes and the police would provide every possible support to the DRC members in the district.

He said that it was encouraging to note that the people of Swabi respected the jirga members and their decisions.

DRC Swabi circle secretary Ghulam Bacha said that it was their duty to serve the people with the cooperation of civil society.

Published in Dawn February 18th , 2015

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