MINGORA: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Sunday said that no change would be made in the provincial cabinet as it was working satisfactorily.

Speaking to mediapersons at his residence in Matta, he insisted that he was the only chief executive who was independently running the province. “Whenever I feel it is imperative to make changes in the cabinet, I will do so without any hindrance,” he said.

Mr Mahmood said owing to shortage of funds construction work on some development projects was halted.

“The newly-constructed block of Saidu Sharif hospital will become functional in June this year as I have released funds for the project. Construction of the Malam Jabba Road will also be completed soon,” he said, adding that construction work would also be resumed on the Swat jail.

The chief minister said construction work on Swat Motorway was underway and it would be officially opened for small vehicles on May 25. “Due to some issues created by the contactor the Kalam road project was re-tendered on which the construction work will soon be started, while Gabin Jabba Road will also be completed by June this year,” he assured.

Mahmood Khan said the federal government would soon pay the Rs34 billion royalty in hydel profit to KP.

He said to streamline the newly-merged districts was the biggest challenge for the province. “PM Imran Khan is personally taking interest in development of the merged areas,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2019