41 development projects worth over Rs56 billion approved for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 21st meeting of Provincial Development Working Party
The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is committed to the uniform development of the province, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is implementing public interest projects under the Sustainable Development Plan.
On the special instructions of the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mr. Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi, the projects for the construction, rehabilitation and expansion of communication roads in Bannu, Hazara, Malakand and Mardan divisions of the province have been formally approved. The construction of new blacktop roads will promote economic activities, improve traffic flow on roads constructed according to widening and modern standards, while passengers will be provided with the facility of safe travel. Short routes and alternative routes will also be created under the project, which will reduce the travel time and make the journey lasting hours shorter. These projects will play an important role in connecting the remote areas of Bannu, Hazara, Malakand and Mardan divisions with the mainstream of development.
The 21st meeting of the Provincial Development Working Party was held under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary Planning and Development Department Mr. Islam Zeb. The meeting reviewed and approved 41 development projects in various sectors to accelerate development and improve the provision of public facilities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The approved projects include important projects in health, education, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, sports and governance. The population welfare includes establishment of 10 adolescent and reproductive health centers, establishment of Mother and Child Hospital in DI Khan in the health sector, health service delivery projects with special focus on MNCH, LHW, establishment of Paeds Hospital in Swat Kabal district under the Saudi Fund for Development, expansion of D-Talk and Insulin for Life, provision of SBA services and renovation of existing basic health centers in the merged districts, deployment of 100 specialists, doctors, EMOs, nurses and paramedics for the health facilities of the merged districts, establishment of an Independent Monitoring Unit in the Health Department and strengthening rehabilitation services for the physically challenged.
In the irrigation sector, flood protection projects, irrigation projects, check dams and canal patrol roads in central and southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda, Peshawar, Nowshera, Kohat, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank and DI Khan were approved, and construction of Samari Payan Dam in Kohat district was approved. Projects for widening, rehabilitation and improvement of blacktop roads in Kurram Upper, Kurram Lower and Orakzai districts in Bannu, Hazara, Malakand and Mardan divisions were also approved. In addition, Havelian-Sajikot Road, Mansehra-Lasun Nawab Road, Shadman Road to Zarwar Khan Kot Ghwakha Laman, Anzar-Gorikhel to Ladha Road in South Waziristan, construction of RC bridges in Tank district and feasibility studies, design and construction of Kaki Road from Bannu city were also approved.
In the energy sector, the project of providing electricity to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa homes through solar energy, Phase I and II, construction of micro-hydel power plants in South Waziristan Lower and 500 kW mini-hydropower station in Karam Shlozan etc. were approved.
Regarding agriculture, the establishment of an agricultural university in Swat, sports-related projects include the upgradation of the football ground of Hayatabad Sports Complex, Peshawar and Qayyum Stadium, Peshawar. Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture initiative in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for agriculture and livestock and expansion of veterinary health services by providing motorcycles to unemployed veterinary graduates were approved. Regarding science and technology, the project of digital governance for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, establishment of Jaban Dargai Public Park in Malakand District and an integrated development package for Janikhel TSD Wazir were also approved.
