PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Wednesday said the government would raise a force of 2,600 personnel for the security of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor-related projects and routes in the province.

He directed the relevant authorities to make a plan for the management, security and safety of the Swat Motorway, including security in the proposed industrial cities in the province, said an official statement issued here.

Chairing a meeting of the home department, the CM directed the relevant authorities to negotiate with the National Highway Authority for the management and road safety mechanism for the Swat Motorway being built by the provincial government.

A special coordination unit for the CPEC, which would integrate the entire CPEC related activities in the province was approved. He said that merger of Fata with KP was the best solution of prevailing problems at the moment.

Mr. Khattak said negotiation with the NHA was the best possible solution due to the the expending network of communication following the start of the CPEC-related activities in the province.

He ordered the formulation of a comprehensive security plan for the CPEC and non-CPEC-related activities and said authorities should have a widen security cover for foreign and domestic investors.

The statement said the CPEC special security force would comprise 2,600 personnel and that its raising would cost Rs1 billion.

The force will be supported by the additional security personnel with the expansion of the CPEC-related activities.

The CM asked officials of the home department to expedite the process of Fata reforms and said the laws and local government system existing in the province should be extended to the adjoining tribal region.

Published in Dawn February 16th, 2017