PESHAWAR, June 24: NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah has directed all departments, specially those providing utility services to the people, to be more responsive and extend cooperation to the agencies carrying out development activities, as, he said, delay in implementation of projects not only caused hardships to the people but also resulted in loss of precious resources.

Presiding over a meeting at the Governor’s House here on Monday, the governor said massive development activities were under way throughout the province specially in the provincial metropolitan which needed active cooperation from line departments for their early completion.

He specially mentioned shifting of the infrastructure of Sui gas, Pesco and PTCL, from the areas earmarked for the widening of road networks, and said this issue should be taken up as most important and there must not be any delay in this connection.  

Since a concrete plan of action had already been chalked out for the expected development projects in the province the departments concerned should also make plans for removal of their existing infrastructure well in advance, he said.

With the grace of Almighty Allah, he said, we did not have any lack of resources and any delay in this connection would not only cause unnecessary hardships for the people but would also cause loss to the respective agencies.

The governor also advised the executing agencies to deposit shifting charges of the utility services well in advance and expressed the hope that exorbitant rates would not be charged.

While referring to the development activities being carried out in Peshawar, the governor said since work on certain major roads was already in progress and some more projects would be taken in hand shortly, the departments providing utility services should chalk out their future responsibilities.

In this connection, he referred to the removal of electricity and Sui gas infrastructure from the Surey Bridge and GT Road and said a concrete strategy had to be evolved not only for early shifting of the infrastructure but also for restoration of the utility networks with much greater speed.

The governor also desired that coordinating representatives should be notified in all the departments concerned. Besides, he added trouble-shooting teams should also be constituted particularly in the department responsible for the provision of utility services.

The governor said work on the University Road section of the GT Road should be started within a week.

He said that the process for removal of encroachments from the GT road should be expedited.

The meeting was attended by provincial heads of NLC, FWO, Sui Gas, Pesco and PTCL, besides Secretary Works and Services Brigadier Safdar, District Nazim Azam Afridi and DG CMDD Malik Saad.