KOHAT: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan has said that federal government is committed to rehabilitate the displaced people of North Waziristan Agency.

Addressing a public meeting after inaugurating Khushalgarh Bridge over the Indus River here on Thursday, he said that peace was essential for economic prosperity, protection of the life and property of the people and sustainable development.

Minister of State for Communication Abdul Hakeem Baloch and Federal Minister for Textile Senator Abbas Khan Afridi also spoke on the occasion.

The governor said that peace and development were linked with each other. He said that government was striving for inviting foreign investment. For that purpose, operation Zarb-i-Azb was launched in North Waziristan, he added.

Opens new bridge to link Kohat and Punjab

The governor said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was committed to steer the country out of the crises, which he got from the pervious government. He said that government was constructing dams to overcome energy crisis and rid the people of electricity loadshedding. Within few years, most of the problems would be resolved, he added.

Mr Khan said that Khushalgarh Bridge connected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Punjab. It would create business opportunities and promote agriculture in both the provinces, he said. He added that the bridge would also benefit the companies to transport oil to Attock Refinery easily.

Earlier in his welcome address, Abdul Hakeem Baloch termed construction of the new bridge an important development. He said that the bridge connected the area with Punjab through Kohat and with Afghanistan through Parachinar. He said that the new bridge would facilitate people as they wouldn’t have to use the 103-year-old British era iron bridge.

The state minister said that the 373 metres two-lane bridge was constructed with the financial assistance of Hungarian oil company ‘MOL’ and Oil and Gas Development Company. He said that Rs1,538 million were spent on the construction of the bridge. With the passing of time and increase in traffic, the bridge could be extended up to four lanes, he added.

Mr Baloch said that the bridge would play important role in connecting farms with markets. He said that National Highways Authority was trying to connect the whole country through a network of highways for promotion of business and provision of international level travelling facilities to the people.

Speaking on the occasion, Senator Abbas Afridi said that the bridge was a gift for the southern areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata. He said that military operation Zarb-i-Azab was going on successfully and soon people would hear good news.

The inaugural ceremony was also attended by Communication Secretary Babar Yaqoob, NHA Chairman Shahid Ashraf and other federal and provincial officials.

The governor also went to the residence of former provincial minister Hidayatullah Khan Afridi and offered fateha for his departed soul and spent some time with the family. He said that the former minister, who died last week, was a competent person and served the people according to his abilities.

Published in Dawn, July 254th, 2014