TIMERGARA: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Saturday announced that Prime Minister Imran Khan would lay the foundation stone of the Chakdara-Chitral Expressway soon under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.

He also announced the grant of the university’s status to Timergara campus of the Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, upgradation of the Timergara DHQ Hospital to Category A, and inclusion of Adenzai’s Laram Top area and Samar Bagh’s Bin Shahi area in the government’s tourism development plan.

The chief minister made the announcements during a visit to Timergara, where he inaugurated the new building of the deputy commissioner’s office and Timergara Medical College in separate functions.

CM denies diversion of Timergara beautification funds to Swat

Mr Mahmood also administered oath to the newly-elected office-bearers of the Timergara Press Club and announced Rs5 million grant for the press club, provision of the Sehat Insaf Cards to its members, and speedy work on the Lower Dir Media Colony.

The chief minister said the government would resolve the land settlement issue in the district.

Addressing a function at the Timergara Medical College, he announced the establishment of a Category C hospital, establishment of a degree college, and beautification of the bazaar and tehsil complex in Maidan area.

He denied the alleged shifting of Timergara beautification funds to Swat and said the government was committed to beautifying the area.

The CM promised the resolution of the Talash colleges’ issues, the provision of buses to the Jandol college, and measures to address low voltage in the area.

He inaugurated the Women’s Polytechnic Institute in Khaima Balambat area and said the institute would train local women in different trades and technologies for their development.

Mr Mahmood CM planted a sapling on the premises to launch the Clean and Green Campaign.

He also inaugurated an academic block and Mehmood Khan Conference Hall at the Timergara Medical College in Rani area.

The college was inaugurated on July 15, 2015, by PTI chief Imran Khan and the then chief minister, Pervez Khattak. Mr Siraj re-inaugurated it on Oct 30, 2017, promising the start of classes at the college. However, the promise wasn’t fulfilled.

CM Mahmood promised the early release of funds for the start of classes.

He also laid the foundation stone of the Emergency Service 1122 Centre in Timergara.

Mr Mahmood claimed that the PTI’s was a corruption-free government, which spent its first year on the merger of tribal districts and their development and would spend the rest on the development of other areas.

CM FLAYED: The Dir Qaumi Pasoon, a civil society organisation, criticised the chief minister for what they called re-inauguration of projects.

DQP leaders Malik Jan Alam and Malik Faridoon Khan told reporters here that the Timergara Medical College was inaugurated by PTI chairman Imran Khan in 2015, while the Women’s Polytechnic Institute was inaugurated by a PPP government.

Mr Alam demanded the inclusion of the district’s scenic areas in the government’s tourism development plan and declaration of the Chakdara Chitral Highway part of the CPEC project for the region’s development.

He warned that a protest campaign would be launched soon after Eid if the government didn’t take tangible steps to the residents’ grievances.

Meanwhile, JI’s Izazul Mulk Afkari, JUI-F’s Maulana Mohammad Nabi Shah, ANP’s Haji Bahadar Khan and PPP’s Bakht Baidar criticised the chief minister for not announcing any new development project.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2019