PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said on Tuesday that survey of Dera Ismail Khan-Peshawar expressway would be completed by January 2020.

Chairing a review meeting of priority projects, he said that consultants hired for this purpose had started the survey, according to a statement issued here.

He said that this crucial highway would link the southern districts with other major road networks.

He said that the proposed expressway would also promote tourism and industrialisation in the province.

Mr Khan said that Daraband economic zone in Dera Ismail Khan would help in development of southern districts along with providing local residents with livelihood opportunities.

The meeting reviewed progress on Rashakai economic zone, Swat economic zone, Daraband economic zone, Mohmand marble industrial zone, Buner marble city and Insaf Rozgar Scheme.

The chief minister told the meeting that industrialisation in the province was of paramount importance in order to eradicate unemployment and provide livelihood opportunities to the people.

About the progress on Insaf Rozgar Scheme in merged districts, the chief minister was informed that about 7,257 forms had been received till September 30 this year and loans worth Rs129.68 million had already been disbursed.

Mr Khan directed to speed up the approval process so that maximum number of youth from tribal districts was provided with loans for starting businesses.

It was stated that development agreement for Rashakai SEZ would be completed in the next 10 days whereas the advertisement for tender process had already been completed and evaluation of prequalification was in process.

The PC-1 for land acquisition and approach roads for Buner marble city had already been submitted for approval.

The chief minister directed to finalise modalities for supply of electricity and gas to Rashakai on priority.

He also asked the concerned departments to work on extending wheeling of electricity generated by the province to industrial units. He said that under this initiative cheap electricity would be provided to the industries, which would in turn reduce the production cost thereby attracting investors.

The chief minister also directed for timely transfer of land to KP EZDMC for Swat economic zone. He said that the present government was committed to inaugurating one development project in the Economic zone sector every four months.

Minister for finance Taimur Saleem Jhagra, principal secretary to chief minister Shahab Ali Shah and senior officials attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2019