BATTAGRAM: Huge funds have been allocated for initiating mega development projects in the Battagram districat.

This was claimed by Taj Mohammad Khan, special assistant to chief minister on prisons, and Mohammad Nawaz Khan, federal secretary science and technology, while addressing a public meeting here on Saturday.

They said that they had met Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in that regard.

They said when the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf formed the government the country was on the brink of being declared a defaulter, but Prime Minister Imran Khan’s tough decisions had dragged it out of the crisis.

Today’s Pakistan is totally different from what it was previously. Now decisions are made on merit and not through backdoor, they claimed.

The government functionaries claimed that soon mega development projects would be initiated in the Battagram district.

Taj Mohammad said in previous ADP, Battagram and Allai tehsils had been given a special package, under which each tehsil would receive Rs350 million.

He said the chief minister had also approved Rs700 million for Battagram under the beautification plan.

He maintained that a major chunk of such funds would be spent on beautification of the main Battagram Bazaar.

The CM’s special assistant said irrigation department would construct safety walls along rivers and establish a network of canals in the district, which will boost the agriculture output.

He said Rs200 million had been allocated for construction and repair of roads. He added that under the JICA programme, Rs750 million had been approved for different projects, while the schemes worth Rs300 to Rs400 million had been proposed to be funded by the Asian Development Bank.

Taj Mohammad said the district headquarters hospital, rural health centres and the basic health units would be upgraded, adding land was being acquired for construction of Kuzabanda degree college.

The CM’s special assistant said the government’s topmost priority was progress of the country and prosperity of the people.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2020