PESHAWAR, April 2: Peshawar District Nazim Ghulam Ali has said that the federal government is not spending any funds in the NWFP capital although the city’s infrastructure has been badly affected by the influx of Afghan refugees and the ongoing war on terrorism.

“Despite announcements by President Pervez Musharraf in April 2002, the federal government has not contributed any amount to the development of Peshawar and welfare of its more than three million dwellers,” Mr Ali said while answering a question during the Peshawar Press Club’s Meet the Press programme on Monday.

He said he would welcome the president if he visited Peshawar to apprise himself about the problems of the city’s people. He said President Musharraf was the founder of the district government system and his contribution was expected for strengthening it.

Answering a question, the nazim said he had initiated an organised campaign against encroachments in the city. He said the Circular Road, University Road, Qissakhawani and thoroughfares had been widened.

He said three barracks of Balahisar Fort and the boundary wall of the NWFP Assembly had also been demolished.

He said work on demolishing a portion of the Governor’s House’s boundary wall was in progress.

He said work on dualisation of roads in various parts of the city was in progress and it would accelerate after inauguration of the flyover at the Rehman Baba Chowk on April 30.

He said a mini-ring road was under consideration from University Road to Warsak Road, which would later be extended to Charsadda Road. He said several steps were under consideration for widening the roads.

The nazim said the accommodation problem had become serious in the wake of growing urbanisation. He said he was working on a plan in this regard and around 400,000 kanals of land could be acquired for a new housing scheme comprising 700,000 homes. He said he wanted to begin work on a drinking water supply project from Warsak Dam to Peshawar.

The project needed Rs12 billion to Rs14 billion and it could be executed with the help of the federal government, he said.

To a question, Mr Ali said it was difficult to ensure durability of the development projects and make them more beneficial for the people without a mater plan.