MANSEHRA: PML-N leader retired Captain Mohammad Safdar on Tuesday said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would soon visit Mansehra to inaugurate the Mansehra gravity water supply scheme.

He told reporters in Paras area here that the inefficiency of former prime minister Imran Khan’s government caused the water project’s cost to go up from Rs4 billion to Rs22 billion.

Mr Safdar said a modern water purification plant would be installed in Lughmani hills near Mansehra.

“Water will be supplied to Mansehra city and its suburbs after purification,” he said.

The PML-N leader said PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, as the former prime minister, approved the water project, so the Japan International Cooperation Agency was tasked with completing it at the cost of Rs4 billion, but the PTI’s federal government created hurdles to it.

MNA insists PTI govt’s inefficiency led to hike in project cost

“Now, this mega project will be completed with Saudi financial assistance,” he said.

Mr Safdar said a Saudi delegation would join the prime minister at the project inauguration ceremony.

He said during the visit, the prime minister would also announce a mega development package for Hazara division.

The PML-N leader said the federal government has already working on the Mansehra- Muzaffarabad-Mirpur Motorway project.

He said his wife and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Sharif had put the province on the way to development, but her Khyber Pakhtunkhwa counterpart from the PTI wasn’t interested in his province’s development.

Mr Safdar said the KP chief minister should rule his province with “patience and wisdom” instead of hurling threats to the federal government.

Meanwhile, the administration of Torghar district, in collaboration with Sungi Development Foundation, has planned to hold colourful events and a seminar to mark the country’s 77th Independence Day today (Wednesday).

Deputy commissioner Ziaur Rehman Marwat will hoist the national flag in the district headquarters in Judbah to be followed by a seminar and other programmes to be attended by religious scholars, youngsters, students, tribesmen and officials.

Sungi regional coordinator Shahid Aziz said for the first time in the history of an erstwhile tribal district, fireworks would be lit in Judbah to mark the Independence Day.

He said his foundation, in collaboration with the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund and district administration, had launched the “Building Climate Resilience Project” through rehabilitation and reconstruction of green infrastructure in flood-hit areas of the province.

Mr Aziz said events were being organised on Independence Day to honour the country’s founders.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2024