MANSEHRA: Caretaker provincial minister for communication and works Ahmad Jan on Sunday said the government was going to execute mega development projects in the Hazara division.

“The cabinet has finalised mega development projects, and has taken them up with the federal government for their early execution. These initiatives would bring a major change in people’s lives in the division,” he said while speaking to mediapersons here.

He said dualisation of Karakoram Highway from Hassanabdal to Mansehra had been approved and its execution was expected to be launched shortly.

“We have also finalised flyovers at this strategic artery in urban parts coming in its right of way to ensure smooth and trouble-free travel,” Mr Jan said.

The minister said execution of a gravity water supply scheme for Mansehra was expected to be initiated soon. “The multi-billion rupees scheme would help overcome the shortage of water the people of Mansehra and its suburbs have been facing for decades,” he said.

Ahmad Jan says dualisation of KKH, construction of flyovers also planned

Mr Jan, who is also caretaker minister of irrigation, said Siren and Bugemung valleys were also being connected with the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road and the KKH through the tourism-friendly Mundi Road, which was rapidly nearing its completion.

The minister said the first-ever medical college would be established in Dadar area of Mansehra on a vast tract of government land.

He said the Hazara Motorway’s Abbottabad interchange was also approved at a cost of Rs12 billion, which would link the city with the artery.

Mr Jan said under the tourism-friendly initiatives, Abbottabad’s garbage dumping ground was being converted into a recycling plant.

SECURITY FOR ELECTIONS: Hazara range deputy inspector general of police Mohammad Ijaz Khan on Sunday said the policemen were being trained to provide foolproof security to voters and the election staff, and that election material would be shifted to the polling stations under tight security.

Speaking at a meeting held in the Kolai-Palas district, he said a comprehensive security plan had been finalised for the Feb 8 elections in Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan, Kolai-Palas, Battagram and Torghar districts.

District police officers, district election commissioners, district returning officers and others were also in attendance.

“Training of police personnel, who would be deployed in and outside police stations, is underway,” Mr Ijaz added.

He directed the district police officers to meet their subordinate officials regularly to remove such flaws that could create a law and order situation on the polling day.

He also directed them to provide foolproof security to corner meetings and candidates in their respective districts.

DIG Ijaz directed the police officers to take prompt action against candidates involved in hate speech.

He said search and strike operations should be carried out at sensitive points.

The district police officers of Kolai-Palas and Lower Kohistan briefed the meeting about the security plan of their respective areas. They said police were enforcing the election code of conduct for free and impartial elections in both the districts.

MAN KILLED: A man was killed and another injured when a vehicle plunged into a ravine in Kawai area of Balakot on Sunday. The vehicle was on way to Balakot from Kaghan when the driver while negotiating a sharp turn lost control over the steering.

Rescue 11222 officials shifted the injured to Civil Hospital in Balakot, where doctors pronounced Abdul Rehman dead. The injured, Zulfiqar Khan, was referred to King Abdullah Teaching Hospital.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2024