MARDAN: Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur said that it is the foremost responsibility of the government to provide facilities to people at their doorsteps.

He was addressing participants of the inaugural ceremonies of different development projects during his visit to Mardan on Wednesday.

He said: “We are working to provide quality education in schools, treatment in hospitals and facilities in government offices.” He asked the public representatives to focus on completing projects within their scheduled time.

He was accompanied by provincial minister for food Zahir Shah Khan Toru, adviser on health Ihtisham Khan, special assistant Tufail Anjum, sports minister Fakhar Jehan Khan, PTI provincial lawmakers Abdus Salam Afridi, Iftikhar Ali Mashwani and other relevant divisional and district administration officials.

Mr Gandapur inaugurated a gymnasium and a multi-purpose hall in Mardan Sports Complex. The hall has been constructed with Rs170 million.

Besides, he laid foundation stone of the upgradation Mardan Sports Complex, which would be completed with a cost of Rs364 million.

Similarly, the chief minister inaugurated a 200-bed Women and Children Hospital adjacent to Mardan Medical Complex Hospital.

The hospital, which has been constructed on 40 kanals of land, has been provided with state-of-the art machinery and other modern facilities.

Likewise, the chief minister also inaugurated the Kundal Dam, which has been built in the neighbouring Swabi district, during a ceremony held on the premises of the Mardan divisional commissioner.

While briefing the CM on the occasion, the relevant officials claimed the Kundal Dam had the capacity of storing 10,395 acres feet of water.

The officials said the project was going to irrigate 13,340 acres of land, besides benefitting around 40,000 people related to the agricultural sector. The dam could supply water to 30,000 people as well.

Later, talking to mediapersons, the chief minister said: “We have been spending public’s tax money over the same people.

All the government funds are of the general public, and that is why they should own it and provide their full assistance and cooperation to the government so that quality of development schemes can be maintained,” he added.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2025