PESHAWAR: Former federal minister Anwar Saifullah and former Senator Salim Saifullah have called for inclusion of the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

According to a statement issued by them, they have also called for initiating projects like Chashma Right Bank left irrigation, Kurram Tangi Dam and construction of motorway through the southern region.

It said that while talking to Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Sunday they regretted that the southern districts had been ignored in development of the country.

However, they hoped that the CPEC would provide an opportunity for the uplift of these areas.

They said that the people and political leaders of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should join hands to ensure that they got maximum benefits of this mega project. They said that the development of these areas would be beneficial for the entire country. They demanded early execution of Chashma Right Bank left irrigation scheme besides construction of new roads on the motorways pattern as the Indus Highway was in a bad condition.

The Saifullah brothers said that if a railway line was constructed through the said region of KP the distance between Peshawar and Karachi seaport would be reduced by 400km, thus benefiting Pakistan and the neighbouring countries.

They also demanded construction of Kurram Tangi Dam to resolve the water shortage problem in the area.

They assured the provincial government of their cooperation with regard to the development of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Published in Dawn, February 29th, 2016