PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Friday directed the planning and development department to hand over the cities improvement project to the local government department.

During a meeting on CIP here, the chief minister also ordered the speedy completion of development plans and projects.

A statement issued here said the meeting was briefed about the CIP, which is meant to ensuring the supply of clean drinking water to the province’s major cities, and improvement of sewerage and drainage systems, solid waste management, and infrastructure.

It will be completed with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank and other donor agencies.

Officials told the meeting that Abbottabad, Kohat, Mardan, Mingora and Peshawar cities had been included in the priority list under the CIP.

CM says govt striving to provide basic facilities to residents of major cities

They said under the project, the improvement of solid waste management system, installation of sewerage treatment plants, development of Company Bagh and Baghdada Park, and execution of green initiatives had been planned for Mardan city.

The officials said greater water supply scheme, improvement of solid waste management system, development of the riverfront and other green spaces and master plan for the resolution of the main bazaar traffic congestion would be carried out in Mingora city.

They said the CIP promised the replacement of water supply distribution network in selected areas of Peshawar besides the improvement of solid waste management system, installation of sewage treatment plants in Hayatabad and Regi Model Town, development of Besai Park in Phase-VII, development and extension of Baghe Naran and green initiative in zoo, while several similar initiatives would be carried out in Abbottabad and Kohat.

The chief minister said the government was taking pragmatic steps to provide all basic services and facilities to the residents of major cities of the province.

He said the government would ensure the provision of conducive and clean environment to the residents.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2020