PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has formally approved three new projects under Peshawar uplift programme and directed the authorities concerned to launch a crackdown on professional beggars throughout the province.

Chairing a meeting regarding the second phase of Peshawar uplift programme, he ordered the relevant officials to ensure timely completion of Hayatabad trail and other ongoing schemes. He also directed them to have a proper maintenance and management plan to make the initiatives sustainable.

According to a statement issued here on Thursday, the chief minister directed the district administration to take pragmatic steps to discourage and root out professional beggary, which had become a nuisance.

Provincial finance minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra, local government minister Faisal Amin Gandapur, MPA Pir Fida, additional chief secretary Shahab Ali Shah, administrative secretaries, Peshawar commissioner Riaz Mehsud, deputy commissioner, director general of PDA and director of archaeology attended the meeting.

The meeting was informed that designing and planning of 20 various schemes had been completed and approved whereas tenders of the projects would be floated soon.

Under the programme, six-kilometre Hayatabad trail would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs803 million. The trail would have recreational facilities, including jogging and cycle tracks, greenbelts, public toilets, shops, kid zone, sit-outs, open gym, amphitheatre, badminton and basketball courts, library, ladies gym and skating area etc.

The chief minister directed for the uplifting of Scheme Chowk, Bacha Khan Chowk, Charsadda road and entry points of Shahi Bagh besides all entry points to Peshawar.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2022