PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Wednesday once again lashed out at provincial Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and threatened to drive him out of the Governor’s House.

“I can throw him (Kundi) out of the governor’s house as I have thrown him out of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad,” Mr Gandapur told reporters here after inaugurating a feeder route for the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit.

In response to a question regarding his sparring with the governor, the chief minister lost his cool and questioned the status of Kundi. “What does the governor amount to?”

When the reporters reminded Gandapur about his “relations” with the governor, he said, “Someone who is a thief and follows thieves can’t be my relative.”

Flays centre for ‘removing’ KP’s projects from next PSDP

The chief minister also criticised the governor for continuously speaking about the May 9 incidents and threatened to order the withdrawal of conveyance, fuel, and food funds for the Governor’s House.

Gandapur and Kundi sparred previously. After one such exchange, the KP government prohibited the governor from staying in the KP House in Islamabad last month.

During the media talk, the chief minister criticised the federal government for removing the province’s projects from the Public Sector Development Programme 2024–25 and said the centre had shown its pettiness by doing so.

He said those projects were the right of the people of his province. “We will send them (the federal government) home after pulling them down from the shoulders they are perched upon now,” he said.

Gandapur said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf workers were ready for protests and were even trained to do so.

Earlier, he inaugurated the new feeder route DR-14 of the Peshawar BRT system at the Central Park Regi Model Town. The event was attended by the transport secretary, TransPeshawar CEO and other officials.

Gandapur emphasised the importance of efficient and accessible public transit in promoting sustainable urban development and improving the lives of the residents of Peshawar, according to the official statement.

“Zu Peshawar caters to approximately 350,000 passengers daily, making it a lifeline for the city’s residents and commuters. The new route is expected to further enhance the accessibility and convenience of public transportation, contributing to the city’s sustainable growth,” he said.

The chief minister said the BRT network was a testament to the commitment of the government and stakeholders to meeting the growing transportation needs of Peshawar’s residents.

He added that the development showed the government’s forward-looking approach to urban planning and sustainability.

The official statement revealed that the new BRT route would connect the Board Bazaar to DHA via Regi Model Town on Nasirbagh Road.

It added that the much-awaited addition to the Zu Peshawar network brought the number of BRT routes to 16, enhancing the city’s public transportation infrastructure.

“This route will consist of a total of 16 stops, including Islamia College, Board Bazar, Canal Bank Colony, Naseer Teaching Hospital, PSO Stop, Police Colony, Askari 6 Phase 2, Askari 6 Phase I, Mian Khan Garhi, Badezai, Regi Model Town, Zone 3 Ground, Government Girls Primary School, Masjid-i-Hamza, Ladies Park, and DHA.”

A spokesman for TransPeshawar told reporters that the new route would benefit the people living in Regi Model Town, DHA, Askari, and Police Colony, as well as students of Islamia College and the University of Peshawar.

He said the initiative would reduce travel times and congestion on the roads.

“With the operationalisation of this, Zu Peshawar continues to revolutionise the way people move in Peshawar, offering a reliable and eco-friendly transportation alternative,” he said.

Housing projects

The CM on Wednesday launched three new housing schemes under the Provincial Housing Authority.

The schemes, including Hangu Township, Dangram Housing Scheme Swat, and Mega City Nowshera, are meant to ensure the provision of better and affordable residential facilities to citizens, according to an official statement issued here on Wednesday.

A ceremony was held at the Chief Minister’s House, where special assistant to the chief minister Dr Amjad Ali, MNA Amjad Khan, MPA Mian Sharafat Ali and other senior officials were in attendance.

The documents reveal that the Hangu Township, spread over 8,362 kanals of land, would house 10,162 plots, both commercial and residential, while the Dangram housing scheme, covering 501 kanals of land, would have 682 plots of different sizes.

Mega City Nowshera, spread over 1,750 kanals of land, will have 3,500 plots of different sizes, both commercial and residential.

These housing schemes will be collectively developed at an estimated cost of Rs21 billion, according to documents.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the chief minister said the provision of affordable residential facilities to people in the province was the responsibility of the government.

He said his government had launched three new schemes on the basis of a public-private partnership to meet people’s housing needs.

Gandapur said the government would give away free five-marla plots to the heirs of government officials and security personnel who were martyred in the line of duty.

He added that new housing schemes worth Rs85 billion were also in the pipeline, which, besides meeting the province’s housing needs, would generate employment opportunities as well.

“Our government has completed the planning phase for the development of different sectors with the potential to generate revenue for the province. We will welcome local and foreign investment in the mining, energy, tourism, and housing sectors and extend all-out facilities to investors,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2024