‘Rs1.2 billion approved for Balakot, Kaghan roads’
6
MANSEHRA: Federal parliamentary secretary for power Salah Mohammad Khan has said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved Rs1.25 billion for construction of three roads in Balakot and Kaghan valleys under its tourism promotion strategy in the province, on the recommendations of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“For the first time in the country’s history the federal government has given the tourism sector the status of an industry and launched mega development projects to explore more and more tourist destinations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” Mr Khan said, while speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the hoteliers association in Balakot on Sunday.
MNA Salah Mohammad said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had approved construction of Shogran, Manoor valley and Ghanool roads in order to promote tourism in Balakot and Kaghan valley.
“I have also received the prime ministers’ directives for the establishment of a medical college and a women university, which will bring a major change in the lives of locals,” said Mr Khan.
He said the provincial government wanted to shift Rs700 million allocated for a road project here to elsewhere in the province, but the prime minister, on his demand, had restricted the funds transfer.
On the occasion, chief minister’s adviser Ahmad Hussain Shah said Chief Minister Mahmood Khan was due in Kaghan valley next week to inaugurate work on the three road projects.
“The work on five out of 14 small hydropower projects being executed in Balakot tehsil has been completed at a cost of Rs500 million and the chief minister will also inaugurate these projects during his visit,” he said.
PROTECTIVE GEAR DONATED: A nongovernment organisation donated Rs2 million worth protective gear to the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital on Sunday.
A representative of the Citizen Foundation handed over 375 protective suits of different sizes to medical superintendent Dr Shahzad Ali Khan at a ceremony, also attended by district health officer, Mansehra, Mushtaq Khan Tanoli.
Dr Ali thanked the NGO for the gesture.
Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2020
