PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Friday announced the supply of natural gas to Buner district and said the required funds for the purpose would be allocated in the next annual budget.

He was talking to a delegation of Buner district during a meeting. Special assistant to the CM on communication and works Riaz Khan and MPA Fakhar Jahan were also in attendance.

The chief minister said his government was taking pragmatic steps to bring all backward areas of the province on a par with developed ones.

Tells visitors from district that project will get funds in next budget

As requested by the visitors, he announced the construction of a sports complex in Khadokhal area, construction of the Ambella-Nagray Road and Sarathana-Dandar Road and upgradation of the local civil hospital to Category D.

Mr Mahmood said funds for those schemes would be allocated in the next budget on ‘priority’ basis.

He also promised the provision of funds for the construction of link roads in the area and directed the relevant authorities to take necessary steps for the purpose.

The chief minister asked the relevant officials to produce a report about physical progress on the upgradation of Totalai Civil Hospital to ensure the project’s completion on time.

Meanwhile, a delegation from Kalam Swat area led by MPA Mian Sharafat Ali also met the chief minister and discussed with him the matters related to development schemes and issues of the residents.

The chief minister said the provincial government was taking pragmatic steps under a well- devised planning coupled with huge investment in various sectors, including tourism, industries and agriculture, to create employment opportunities for the residents at local level.

Speaking about the development projects of Kalam area, he said work on various development projects, including Gorkan-Mataltan and Kalam hydropower projects, construction of Kalam National Park and Kalam Development Authority, was under way and its completion would create enormous employment opportunities for the local population.

He assured visitors that the locals would be given priority for jobs in the development schemes being executed in the area.

Mr Mahmood announced the establishment of a modern model school in Kalam area and upgradation of the Kalam hospital to provide better healthcare to the residents.

He said the land settlement exercise in Kalam would begin soon to ensure the resolution of land ownership issues of the residents on a permanent basis.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2021