MANSEHRA: MPA of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Babar Saleem Swati has demanded early payment of the dues to the people, whose land was acquired for the proposed Lassan Nawab airport in Mansehra district almost five years ago.

“The federal government first released Rs480 million for payment to landowners but later stopped the district administration from paying it to the landowners delaying the start of work on the strategically important airport,” Mr Swati told reporters here on Wednesday.

The lawmaker said 6,276 kanals of land was acquired for the airport in 2016 but the administration on the orders of the federal government stopped further land acquisition.

“As the provincial assembly unanimously adopted his resolution in a recent session demanding an early completion to this airport project, the federal government should respect it and ensure the start of work,” he said.

Mr Swati, who is also the chairman of the provincial assembly’s standing committee on home and tribal affairs, said the airport initiative would promote tourism and meet travel needs of the people across Hazara division and Gilgit-Baltistan.

He said the residents of Hazara division wanted an early construction of the airport.

CLEANLINESS DRIVE: The administration of Baffa-Pakhal tehsil on Wednesday launched a 15-day cleanliness drive.

“The cleanliness campaign is meant to dispose of the construction material dumped on the roadside and garbage littering streets and other places,” tehsil municipal officer Mazhar Awan told reporters.

He said the messages written on walls and speed breakers illegally put up by the residents would also be removed in Baffa and Siren areas.

Mr Awan said the administration would hold sessions to raise public awareness of cleanliness, especially proper waste disposal.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2021