TAXILA: Attock district would soon start getting royalties generated from hydel power projects, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said.

Talking to journalists, he said Prime Minister Imran Khan directed authorities concerned to release the district’s due share from this year’s budget. He added that the district would get 25pc royalty from hydel power projects.

All of Punjab’s royalties completely depend upon hydel projects of Attock, he said, adding the province is getting a share of Rs53 billion from hydel power and subsequently Attock district will get a 25pc share from this amount. This amount will be spent on development of the area and welfare of people.

Mr Aslam was of the view that Attock was being deprived of its share in the hydel power profit since many years which was sheer injustice to its inhabitants. He said Punjab was earning its hydel profit from Ghazi-Barotha Hydropower Project which was located entirely in Attock district and locals who had provided their lands for the project were completely neglected.

The SAPM said that work on the state-of-the-art Mother and Child Hospital will be completed in two years and soon its foundation stone will be laid while the up gradation of District Headquarters (DHQ) hospital will be started in August this year. The Punjab government has given approval for establishment of Attock University and work on this project will be started soon.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2021