PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has said that timely completion of ongoing mega development projects in the province is the top priority of his government. He said the ongoing projects would be given priority in release of development funds.

“The provincial government will make all possible efforts to complete the ongoing development schemes of public welfare within the tenure of incumbent government so that people could benefit from these projects without any delay,” he said.

According to a statement issued here, the chief minister was chairing a meeting here on Friday to review progress so far made on different mega development projects in the province. The forum reviewed progress made on the Paeds Hospital Swat, University of Engineering and Technology, Swat, and other projects.

It was decided to start MS classes in the University of Engineering and Technology, Swat, as well as to perform groundbreaking of the permanent building for the university next month.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that efforts were being made to start practical work on all the priority projects of the provincial government, including DI Khan Motorway, Chashma Right Bank Canal Project, Balakot hydropower project, Swat Motorway Phase-II and Khyber Pass Economic Corridor.

He said that the provincial government wanted to facilitate general public by utilising all the available resources.

Project director Dr Najeebullah Marwat briefed the meeting about the progress on University of Engineering and Technology, Swat. He said all arrangements had been completed to ensure commencement of MS classes in the Swat University by April 2021.

It was stated that a master plan and pre-qualification of contractors had been finalised for construction of permanent campus for the university.

Mr Marwat told the forum that a PC-I for the establishment of Manufacturing Technology and Innovation Centre had been prepared and submitted to the relevant forum. The centre would have multiple sub-centres, including the centre of digital design and development, centre for additive manufacturing and surface engineering, centre for embedded systems, centre for automation technologies/industry, centre for training and development and centre for bioengineering and bio-manufacturing in the university.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2021