MANSEHRA: The provincial government has sanctioned Rs1.5 billion for construction of the 15km Datta-Kotkay Road to divert traffic from Abbottabad Road to Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road to ease vehicular mess in Mansehra city.

“Of Rs1.5 billion, Rs250 million has been released for the acquisition of land,” MPA Babar Saleem Swati told mediapersons here the other day.

He said the road construction was also part of the annual development programme and work on it would begin shortly.

“This road will not only reduce distance between Abbottabad and Mansehra but also provide an alternative route to tourists bound for Kaghan valley from Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan,” he said.

Mr Swati said the acquisition of land from Datta to Kotkay would be carried out shortly as the funds had been released.

MPA Saleem Swati says Rs250m released for land acquisition

“Land survey for this mega road project has already been completed,” he said. The lawmaker said the tendering process would begin after completion of land acquisition.

INTER-HOUSE SPORTS: Parliamentary secretary for water resources MNA Saleh Mohammad Khan has said that cadet colleges have been producing human resource for the armed forces and other sectors and fields of life.

“The future of our nation is standing in front of me and I am optimistic you would pull this country out of current challenges because of your hard work,” Mr Khan told the concluding ceremony of inter-house sports of Pakistan Scouts Cadet College, Batrasi, here on Sunday. College principal retired Brigadier Abdul Hafiz was also present on the occasion. The cadets showed their talent in rugby, swimming, high jump, and long jump, squash, and several other games.

KILLED: A man was killed for honour in Dilbori area here on Sunday.

Mohammad Siddique had gone to Dilbori bazaar where Mohammad Sultan and his son Khan Mohammad allegedly opened fire on him, leaving him seriously injured. The locals took him to a nearby hospital, but did not survive.

According to the bereaved family, sister of Mohammad Sultan had got married with Siddique some years ago without consent of her family. He said that FIR was lodged against both the suspects.

In another case, robbers broke into several shops and decamped with cash and goods in Maswal area on Saturday night. The affected traders have lodged an FIR with Khaki police station.

Meanwhile, the body of a second year’s college student Mohammad Bilal, who had drowned in the Indus River in Darband area couldn’t be fished out on second day of the incident on Sunday.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2020