MANSEHRA: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will install solar energy systems at around 150 mosques with an estimated cost of Rs35 million in Torghar district.

“A former provincial minister of ANP had embezzled funds meant for mosques in our district, but we are going to install solar power systems at 150 mosques. The project would cost Rs35 million,” MPA Zareen Gul, chairman of the district development advisory committee Torghar, told a gathering after inaugurating a water supply scheme in Khor Madakhel area on Sunday.

He said that as most parts of Torghar district were still deprived of electricity the mosques were being electrified through solar power. He said that those who embezzled funds meant for mosques and poor people had been facing the results of their corruption.

The DDAC chairman said that contractors who used substandard material in development schemes or delayed projects were blacklisted. He said that development schemes worth over Rs560 million were in progress in different parts of Torghar.

Mr Gul said that work on higher secondary schools in Mera Madakhel, Sirbagui Hassanzai and Palosa Hassanzai was in progress. “We have earmarked Rs500 million for five major arteries in the district and work on these schemes would be inaugurated soon,” he said.

GAS SUPPLY: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Mohammad Yousaf has said that the government is working on a plan to ensure gas supply to areas still deprived of it in the city and its suburbs.

“We have been working on different gas supply schemes worth Rs100 million in the city and its adjoining areas in Mansehra,” he told a public meeting in Safada village on Sunday.

The minister said that the Japan International Cooperation Agency had completed the survey to inaugurate a water supply scheme which would resolve the problem of water shortage in the city.

Meanwhile, PML-N notified its office-bearers for Oghi tehsil after a consultative meeting of party workers on Sunday. Ali Mohammad and Mohammad Rafique Swati were elected as tehsil president and general secretary, respectively. Former tehsil president Umar Khitab was included the district body as a senior vice-president.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2017