PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has said that the provincial government has established a model of sustainable development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the aim to make the province financially strong and enable it to contribute significantly to the national exchequer.

A statement issued here quoted Mr Khan as saying that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf believed in the empowerment of institutions instead of depending on personalities.

He said that institutional empowerment was the only way to ensure sustainable development and establishment of a welfare state. He said that due to long-term planning, KP had been set on the track of development which would make the province a role model for national development.

The chief minister reiterated that his government had worked tirelessly for promotion of tourism as an industry which had made the province a tourist destination.

In order to exploit the natural resources available in the province, various initiatives have been undertaken in which the wheeling model deserves special attention. Provision of cheap electricity has made KP an attractive spot for the national and international investors seeking establishment of small and large industrial units, he said.

Mr Khan said that despite various constraints, the provincial government had successfully completed the daunting task of integration of erstwhile Fata into the province.

However, he said that the indifferent attitude of the present federal government had raised serious concerns over the intention regarding development of these areas. Non-provision of development funds has fueled apprehensions of exploitation of the tribal belt among the tribal people, he said.

The chief minister stated that the present government had also invested significantly for preservation of moral, cultural and Islamic values. “These initiatives would strengthen our national identity in the international community,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2022