MANSEHRA: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Thursday claimed that he had never received kickbacks and commission for the award of development projects.

He also said he won’t allow corruption in government departments.

The chief minister was addressing a public meeting in Judbah, district headquarters of Torghar district, where he inaugurated development projects completed at the cost of Rs270 million, and announced Rs300 million funds for other schemes in the district.

Mr Mahmood said his government was striving to bring underdeveloped districts in the province on a par with the developed ones.

“Our party (PTI) had promised equal development in urban and rural areas, so my government launched mega development projects across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said.

The chief minister blamed high inflation on heavy borrowing by the previous governments and said the government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan was returning those loans.

“The obtaining of more and more foreign loans destroyed our economy, so it is not an option for us (PTI government),” he said.

Mr Mahmood said the government didn’t hesitate from taking unpopular decisions in the large public and national interest.

“Without caring about our position in the coming general elections, we are striving to put the country on the way to development,” he said.

The chief minister laid foundation stone for the Rs60 million Rescue 1122 building saying the emergency service will be extended to other parts of the district soon.

He inaugurated electric supply to Madakhel area from a micro-hydropower project completed at the cost of Rs120 million.

Mr Mahmood laid foundation stone for Gorya-Danda Japeet and Shagai-Kalish roads to be built at the cost of Rs90 million.

He also visited Gatka village and condoled with the families of 12 people, who lost life in the September cloudburst incident.

Special assistant to the chief minister Ahmad Hussain Shah, MNA Saleh Mohammad and MPAs Fareed Salahuddin and Mufti Obaidullah addressed the event.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2021