KHAR: Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Bajaur tribal district on Friday(today), senior officials of the district administration said here on Thursday.

They said that the prime minister will arrive at 1pm and address a public meeting in Bajaur Sports Complex, Khar. According to the schedule, Imran Khan will also meet with his party leaders, lawmakers and tribal elders during his maiden visit to the district.

He will inaugurate the newly-constructed Cadet College in Mamad Gat and a Model College, followed by planting a sapling in Khar.

KP governor, CM and ministers to accompany him during the visit

A well-placed source told this correspondent that the prime minister would be accompanied by Governor Shah Farman, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and a number of federal and provincial ministers. He said that it was expected that a number of projects would be announced on this occasion, which included establishment of a medical college, university, Sehat Insaf Cards, Barang Tunnel and restoration of Internet services in the district.

The source said that the premier was likely to announce a special development package for the district during his address at the public meeting.

Meanwhile, the district administration completed its preparations for the prime minister’s visit.

The Bajaur Sports Complex has been decorated with national flags and welcoming banners while hundreds of Levies and FC personnel would be deployed at the venue to ensure foolproof security.

The administration has cancelled all sorts of leaves of the Levies personnel for the last three days while the sports complex has been closed for routine sports activities since Wednesday morning.

The people of Bajaur, especially PTI workers, have been expressing the hope that Imran Khan would announce several development projects for the district. The party’s local leadership has been making all-out efforts to ensure maximum participation of local people in the public meeting.

In this regard, a meeting of party’s local leaders was held here on Thursday which was also attended by PTI lawmakers Gul Dad Khan and Gul Zafar Khan besides hundreds of workers. The PTI lawmakers have asked the workers to bring maximum number of people to the venue.

Meanwhile, PM’s special adviser Iftikhar Durrani said in a video message on Thursday that Prime Minister Imran Khan would visit Bajaur on Friday (today) where he would address the people of the area and make important announcements. This will be the first visit of the prime minister to the district after merger of Fata with KP.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2019