UPPER DIR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Wednesday announced a Rs900 million development package for Upper Dir district, including Rs500 million for mega schemes.

The mega schemes include the establishment of an engineering university, construction of the press club building, Rs200 million construction of two RCC bridges, solarisation of mosques in Upper Dir, establishment of a degree college, provision of fire brigade facility, construction of new roads, completion of work on ongoing road projects, and provision of salary package for the special police force like regular police’s.

The announcement was made by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan during a public meeting here, where former MPA and former Pakistan Peoples Party district president Anwar Khan and leader Jehangir Khan announced the joining of the PTI along with their supporters.

The chief minister welcomed the former MPA to the PTI and said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had re-elected his party to power suggesting that they’re satisfied with its governance strategy.

CM claims people will re-elect PTI for delivering goods

He also inaugurated the Government Centennial Model High School built at a cost of Rs35.75 million. The school has the capacity to enrol 1,300 students.

The chief minister also announced the solarisation of the school, construction of a playground and appointment of the Class-IV staff members there.

Addressing the public meeting, Mr Mahmood said the looters of the taxpayers’ money and corrupt political leaders had left every child of the province borrower without any development and initiative to generate revenue.

He said the PTI government was taking pragmatic measures to generate revenue and they included the establishment of industrial zones, strengthening of communication networks, attracting of investors by providing them with conducive environment, including provision of cheap electricity, promotion of tourism and strengthening of cross-border trade with Afghanistan.

He said the completion of the Swat Motorway Phase-II, Peshawar-DI Khan Motorway, Chitral-Chakdara Road, Chashma lift irrigation scheme, wheeling of electricity scheme and other such projects schemes planned by the government would not only ensure greater revenue generation but it would also provide tremendous livelihood opportunities to the people across the province.

Mr Mahmood also announced the release of funds for the ongoing development schemes in Upper Dir district and early completion of the Kumrat Road.

He minister said the people had re-elected the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf due to its good performance and would elect it in the 2023 elections, too, for delivering the goods.

The chief minister said the government had focused its attention on the development of the backward areas of the province, especially newly-merged tribal districts, which were earlier ignored during development process.

The chief minister said when corrupt politicians were arrested and put behind bars, they fell sick and sought release on medical grounds.

He promised the early filling of the vacant posts of doctors in basic health units and rural health units of Upper Dir district.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2019