PESHAWAR, Jan 31: Councillors and nazims on Tuesday criticised the district government for ignoring rural parts of Peshawar district and appealed to the government to evolve a plan for the uplift of backward areas.

Speaking at the opening session of the city district council, the elected representatives accused District Nazim Haji Ghulam Ali of releasing funds to town councils on political grounds. They also said that the district government was focusing too much attention on Town-I and ignoring the other three towns.

Both the councillors and nazims said that Town-I was receiving the lion’s share of funds which, they alleged, were being diverted to urban areas of the district.

They called upon the government to ensure fair distribution of funds among the town councils.

Nazim union council Hazarkhwani Hidayatullah said that although the district government had released Rs9.16 million for Town-I for various development schemes, it had not yet given Town-II its outstanding dues amounting to Rs2.5 million.

He appealed to the government to enhance the share of rural areas in the annual development programme since “Town-II and Town-IV have not received its due share in the annual development programme”.

Several councillors protested against frequent load-shedding, low voltage and non-availability of natural gas in rural parts of the provincial capital.

Nazim Mohammad Ali Safi said the military government had announced a development package of Rs10 billion for the city, but the previous district government could not avail that package. He urged the district government to take up the matter with the provincial government again.