PESHAWAR: Federal minister for power Umar Ayub Khan has promised the immediate payment of Rs20 billion by the federal government to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government as part of the due net hydel profit.

The development came during a meeting co-chaired by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and federal minister Umar Ayub at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here.

The meeting also attended by administrative secretaries and other relevant officers examined health, education, communication, water and economic zone projects for Haripur district, said a statement issued here on Thursday.

The meeting decided about the development of infrastructure throughout the province with a focus on roads, education, health, irrigation and social services.

Federal minister Umar Ayub, CM jointly chair meeting on infrastructure development

It agreed on the acceleration of work on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor-related projects and removal of hurdles to hydropower and gas projects.

The chief minister promised drinking and water supply schemes for areas near Tarbela dam and a network of development projects for the areas, which have natural advantages but don’t have facilities.

He also said the government would execute schemes in merged tribal districts.

Mr Mahmood said the Dasu and Basha dams would help develop the province’s economy.

He accepted in principal the proposal of leasing out the Haripur PTCL building to the medical college for five years and approved the upgradation of category-B hospital to category-A and the recruitment of doctors and other staff members for it.

The chief minister promised funding for work on the Good Wania dam.

He agreed on the development of the Makanyal Development Authority and ordered the review of the existing laws on the EZDMC, environmental economic zone and other industrial zones.

The meeting decided that the the deputy commissioner of Haripur and other areas would enjoy powers for preventing pollution and will take necessary steps in that respect.

Mr Mahmood also agreed on the need-driven imposition of Section 4 for acquisition of land for all projects of public interest.

He ordered the banning of all sorts of postings and transfers in the education department and said the government would resolve problems of different sectors in Haripur district.

The chief minister promised funding for the construction of a mother and children hospital and Chapara dam in Haripur district.

He said the district’s children hospital and trauma centre would be rehabilitated, while funding would be provided to all districts throughout the province under a uniform resource distribution strategy.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2019