MANSEHRA: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is set to launch a mega gravity water project for Mansehra city and its suburbs with the help of Saudi funding.

“We are aware of an acute water shortage in our city and adjoining areas and will address it through this Rs19 billion water supply project whose 40 per cent funding will come from Saudi Arabia,” Speaker of the provincial assembly Babar Saleem Swati told a function here on Saturday.

He said work on the project, which had already been cleared by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, would begin shortly.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader and former senator Azam Khan Swati and provincial deputy president Kamal Saleem Swati were also present.

PA speaker says CM to inaugurate work shortly

The assembly’s speaker praised Chief Minister Ali Amen Gandapur for “taking keen interest in addressing Mansehra’s severe water issue.”

He said the chief minister would inaugurate the scheme in the Neeli Nadi stream in the Paras area of Kaghan Valley.

Mr Babar said he advocated the gravity water scheme in 2021 as an MPA and requested the then PTI government in the centre to execute it, which led to the announcement of Saudi funding for it.

On the occasion, former senator Azam Swati said the mega gravity water scheme approved by the provincial government would address water shortages in Mansehra and adjoining areas.

PTI leader Kamal Swati said water would be supplied to Mansehra city and its outskirts from Kaghan Valley through the Saudi-funded scheme.

Meanwhile, police busted an inter-provincial gang of robbers in the Baffa area here on Saturday and seized stolen goods, gold ornaments, and cash.

The police said acting on a tip-off, they raided a house in the Ichrian area and arrested Liaquat Yaqoob, Shogo Khan, Asif Ghulam, Mustafa Khan, and Fayyaz Khan after the recovery of stolen goods and cash valuing millions of rupees.

Meanwhile, Lassan Nawab residents have demanded the early start of science classes in the area’s only government higher secondary school for girls.

They told reporters that the last PTI government approved funds to upgrade the school from high to higher secondary level and put up buildings, but the administration could start arts classes only owing to a shortage of science teachers.

The residents demanded the intervention of authorities for the early start of science classes in the school.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2024