SWABI: The district administr ation has proposed to the two leading tobacco purchasing companies to finance four projects which would cost Rs54.2 million.

Sources in the tehsil municipal administration (TMA) told Dawn here on Sunday that the projects would help in beautification of the district.

A meeting about the projects was held in the deputy commissioner’s office here the other day. Swabi tehsil municipal officer (TMO) Shafiqur Rehman gave presentation to the participants about the projects. Swabi DC Matiullah Khan, officials of the Pakistan Tobacco Company, Philip Morris International, Pakistan, and TMA attended the briefing.

It has been learnt that the two companies have shown interest in financing the projects to give a message to the people that they are not only purchasing tobacco from the local farmers, but are also ready to play a role in the development of the tobacco growing areas.

TMO says green island, Bab-i-Swabi, bus stops among projects

About the proposed projects, Mr Rehman said that the establishment of a green island/free city wifi hotspot would be built at a cost of Rs23 million on the 12-kanal plot of TMA on Swabi-Mardan road.

The green island would have sitting huts, free wifi hotspot, trees, kids play area and women’s section and a cafeteria.

The construction of Bab-i-Swabi at the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway interchange would cost Rs10.5 million. People entering the district would be welcomed by an eye-catching structure and luring greenery.

Decorative pillars recounting the history of the area would be added.

The TMO said that establishment of a social museum was the third project, costing Rs10.7 million.

The participants were told that Swabi was the region where Alexander the Great crossed the Indus River at Hund area and it had remained the centre of Ghandhara civilisation, but few people know about the past glory of the district.

The TMA wants to set up a social museum so that people could understand why Swabi is known as ‘The City of Wisdom’, he elaborated. Mr Rehman said that the construction of 10 modern bus stops would need Rs10 million.

The city has no regular bus stops and citizens, particularly the women and elderly, face problems while waiting for buses.

VARSITY REOPENS: The University of Swabi would reopen on Monday (today), according to the varsity teachers.

The varsity was closed on the day Bacha Khan University, Charsadda, was attacked by militants on Jan 20.

It reopened, but was soon closed with officials citing the reason as the foggy weather.

However, police said that they had already showed their reservations about the inadequate security arrangements at both the Swabi varsity and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2016