KARAK: The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MNA Shahid Khattak has claimed that Rs12 billion oil and gas royalty funds would be spent on development projects in the Karak district in the next five years, including Rs1.3 billion during the current financial year.

Talking to mediapersons here the other day, he said a high-level meeting held a few days ago chaired by provincial finance minister Taimor Saleem Jhagra had decided to utilise royalty funds on development of Kohat division.

He claimed that oil and gas royalty funds would be spent with the consensus of the local lawmakers. He added that oil and gas royalty funds of Rs12 billion would be utilised through Area Development Programme (ADP).

The lawmaker said the royalty funds would be spent only on mega projects identified by the UNDP on need basis, adding the PC-I of development projects had been prepared by the same agency.

Mr Khattak said funds would be spent preferably on construction of small dams to improve underground water table in the district.

The next major sector to benefit is agriculture to improve the living standard of farmers, he added.

He said buildings of new schools would be constructed, equipment would be provided to hospitals and a network of roads would be spread.

He said projects of women empowerment would also be launched through the royalty funds.

The lawmaker said gas facility would be extended to every nook and corner of the district. He said the project director of ADP would be appointed in four weeks. He thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Mahmood Khan for providing royalty funds.

FIVE INJURED ON ROAD: Five persons, a woman among them, were injured when a car and rickshaw collided head-on near Sheenghar flour mills on the Karak-Takht-i-Nusrati Road.

The injured were shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Takht-i-Nusrati, where four of the seriously injured, including a woman, were referred to the district headquarters hospital.

Work on dam starts: Construction work has been started on Zeri Dam in Mithakhel union council, which would improve the water table and provide irrigation water to fields in the area.

Speaking on the occasion on Sunday, sub-divisional officer of irrigation department Khan Wazir said that it was the most feasible places for construction of small dam.

He said the project would be completed in the stipulated time to benefit the people.

He said that on completion the dam would recharge the underground water resources and improve declining water table in the area.

He said that construction of more small dams was essential to ensure availability of irrigation water in the area.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2020