DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said here on Friday that Dera Ismail Khan would be made an economic hub and every possible step would be taken for development of the district.

Addressing a press conference along with Federal Minister for Communications Asad Mahmood here on Friday evening, the JUI-F chief said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would visit Dera Ismail Khan on Dec 26 to inaugurate a number of mega development projects for the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Two prominent politicians of Dera Samiullah Khan Alizai and his father Hafeezullah Khan Alizai joined JUI-F on this occasion.

Mr Fazl, who is also chief of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), said that Dera Ismail Khan was his land and every possible step would be taken for its development.

As part of efforts to meet longstanding requirements of the area, he said that the prime minister would announce CPEC route from Yarik to Sagu and onward to Zhob, a road from Yarik to Tank, Tank to Pezu, construction of Mufti Mehmood Chowk to Yarik road and Mufti Mehmood Chowk to Qureshi Morr road.

Mr Fazl also said that the government had agreed to build an international airport in the region to increase trade and economic activities with central Asian countries. However, he said that a suitable site was being selected, adding, such initiatives would make Dera an economic hub.

He said the measures would also be taken for the agriculture sector of Dera Ismail Khan and in this regard Gomal Zam Dam had already been built, but it needed to be further channelised.

He said that Chashma Lift Canal and Tank Zam Dam would be constructed to bring about 12 lakhs acre barren land under cultivation. He added that an industrial zone would be set up and it would usher in socioeconomic development in the area.

Answering a question, he asked Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan to present the performance of his three and a half years rule in the centre before the public instead of making overtures to create unrest in the country.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2022