GHALANAI: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has said the tribal districts are rich in precious mineral resources and therefore, the government is working to utilise them for the region’s development.

Addressing a public meeting here on Monday, the chief minister said those minerals belonged to the people of merged tribal districts and they had the right to them.

“I assure the tribal people that all development initiatives will be initiated with their consultation,” he said.

The chief minister said the local government system was being introduced in tribal districts for the provision of better municipal services to the people, while the jirga system would remain intact to resolve minor issues of tribal people then and there.

He said Wapda had already been directed to recruit the local residents for the non-technical positions of the Mohmand dam project.

Mr Mahmood said under the Mohmand dam project, various development schemes at the cost of Rs4 billion were being launched in consultation with the residents.

He said a special complaint cell had been setup at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat to address the grievances of the people of the merged tribal areas and resolve their issues without delay.

The chief minister said through the complaint cell, the people of area communicated their complaints to the Chief Minister’s Office directly.

He said all such complaints would be resolved within 24 hours.

Mr Mahmood said a water supply scheme for Upper Mohmand would be launched soon.

He said a major water supply scheme for the Ghalanai Headquarters from Sro Killi area would also be initiated for which a consultant firm had been hired.

The chief minister also announced 100 solar tubewells, four irrigation tubewells, special packages for road infrastructure, upgradation of Mamad Gut and Yaka Ghund grid stations, and Rs2m special grant for Ghalanai Press Club.

“All deficiencies at District Headquarters Hospital, Ghalanai, will be removed on priority basis and if required, the hospital will be upgraded,” he said.

The chief minister said the residents of Mohmand district would soon learn about the establishment of a university’s campus in the region.

He said a mega sports complex was being constructed in Mohmand at the cost of Rs750m, whereas sports grounds would be set up at tehsil level in the district.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2020