MANSEHRA: The district administration has completed beautification schemes in five tehsils here at the cost of Rs700 million.

The provincial government had approved those funds for Mansehra, Balakot, Oghi, Darband and Baffa-Pakhal tehsils.

Additional deputy commissioner (finance) Nazima Shaheen, who supervised the execution of beautification schemes, told reporters that for the first time, the government had allocated such a huge sum of money for such schemes in the district.

She said 44 beautification schemes were approved for five tehsils of Mansehra district and work on 24 of them was either completed or under way.

Ms Shaheen said the schemes were meant for the preservation of historical sites, installation of monuments at key places, nullah construction, and writing of welcoming messages on mountainous and recreational places, Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road and Karakoram Highway.

According to the district uplift and beatification schemes, the government released Rs368 million for 14 schemes of the works and communication department, Rs181 million for Mansehra tehsil municipal administration’s 12 schemes, Rs35 million for Balakot TMA’s four projects, Rs45 million for Baffa-Pakhal TMA’s 10 schemes, and Rs70 million for Oghi TMA’s projects.

“Work on most of 24 schemes launched after the funds were released is either complete or near completion,” Ms Shaheen said.

She said the government had so far released Rs438 million funds and would release others as the work progressed.

The official said the construction of nullahs or sewers around the Karakoram Highway and Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road would ensure proper disposal of rainwater to prevent the flooding of those arteries.

Published in Dawn,May 7th, 2022