TIMERGARA, May 1: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti on Tuesday said his government had planned bifurcation of Malakand division but delay in national census had delayed action on it.

He, however, said Timergara or Dir would be declared headquarters of the new division.

The chief minister was addressing a public meeting after laying foundation stone for the reconstruction of Chakdara Bridge at Pol Chowki.

He said his party (Awami National Party) wouldn’t desert the Pakistan People’s Party-led government in the centre and would continue supporting it.

Mr Hoti said the federal government had accepted all demands of ANP, including provincial autonomy, renaming of the province and share in NFC award, and that success against terrorists was a historical achievement of the ANP-led coalition government in the province.

Mr Hoti said the province’s development budget had been increased 80 per cent compared to those presented by the last government. He said the government had planned to begin work on small hydropower stations at 24 sites in the province at the cost of Rs330 billion eyeing production of 2,100 megawatts electricity.

He said the Rs480 million project of Chakdara Bridge’s reconstruction would link Lower and Upper Dir, Chitral and Bajaur agency with the rest of the province.

“Income generated by development projects will be spent on people’s welfare,” he said.

The chief minister said the government enforced Shariah in Malakand division on the call of locals but later, militants didn’t lay down arms and began fighting with the government to disturb peace.

“We had no option but to launch a military offensive against militants,” he said, adding that the move proved successful due to public support and the security forces’ sacrifices.

Federal minister for communication Arbab Alamgir Khan, provincial minister Haji Hidayatullah and other also addressed the gathering. Later the chief minister also addressed a gathering at the Fishing Hut Chakdara.