SHANGLA: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has directed the Shangla district administration to expedite work on the ongoing development projects and submit report on alleged corruption in water supply and street pavement schemes within two days.

He issued the directives during a meeting with the line department officials in Bisham the other day. Minister for information and broadcasting Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, Malakand division commissioner Riaz Mehsud and deputy commissioner Fayyaz Sherpao were also present.

Earlier, the chief minister inaugurated tehsil subdivision complex building in Bisham and also addressed a jirga, where he announced Rs200 million for the TMA.

He also announced upgradation of tehsil headquarters hospital, Bisham, from type D to C, and assured the jirga of resolving the issue of power transmission line from Shang grid station.

Separately, addressing the inaugural ceremony of new building of the University of Swat’s Shangla campus at Lelonai, Mr Mahmood assured the varsity’s administration of allotment of 200 kanals of land. He said the varsity would impart free education to the children of deceased coalmines.

Mahmood also assured the university that Shangla technical college’s building would also be handed over to it.

“I have approved reconstruction of Karora-Ajmeer Road, which will help boost tourism in the district,” the chief minister said.

He also announced reconstruction of Karora-Chakesar Road, converting Olandar basic health unit into community health unit, constructing Ganshal Bridge and a degree college in Kana tehsil. He said cheques would be given to the heirs of the martyred mineworkers.

He also announced widening and blacktopping of the Yakhtangay-Malam Jabba Road to boost tourism in the region. He said Burj Banda, Kapar Banda, Pir Sar and Yakhtangay would be declared tourism spots.

He also announced a tubewheel for Chakesar and Rs200,000 for Shangla Press Club.

Meanwhile, PML-N provincial president Amir Muqam has claimed that CM Mahmood Khan had been inaugurating projects initiated and inaugurated by PML-N during its tenure.

Talking to mediapersons in Puran on Tuesday, he said former governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra had inaugurated the University of Swat’s campus in Shangla five years ago, while the district complex was approved by Erra in 2006.

“PTI is trying to take credit for the projects I had got approved, which included the district complex in Lelonai,” he said. He alleged the ruling party had cancelled approved projects like Khwazakhela-Shangla and Chakdara-Kalam expressway.

He said the CM should purchase land for the university campus and announce cadet and medical colleges for Shangla.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2019