SWABI: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has said Prime Minister Imran Khan will soon inaugurate the Rashakai Economic Zone and that 250,000 locals would get jobs in the mega project to be executed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Addressing a public meeting at Palodand in Saleem Khan here on Saturday, he said extension of Swat Expressway to Badian, construction of an expressway in DI Khan, Chitral-Shandoor Road and various other projects had been included in the CPEC.

On the occasion, some influential families quit Awami National Party and joined the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

Shahram Khan Tarakai, former provincial health minister, who was removed from the cabinet along with Atif Khan and Shakeel Ahmed last month, did not participate in the gathering even as it held in his native district, indicating that differences between the KP government and ousted ministers have not been resolved as yet.

Mahmood Khan said the prime minister had sanctioned Rs83 billion for development of the tribal districts as the provincial government had regularised the services of 41,000 Levies personnel after merging them into the provincial police.

Announces various development projects during visit to Swabi

He said his government had inked an agreement with the industry under which 18MW electricity from Pehur High Level Canal (PHLC) would be given to Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate, and similar steps would be taken across the province.

“The industry will get electricity at Rs7 per unit,” he said, adding PHLC extension project would cost Rs18 billion and irrigate about 250,000 acres of land after its completion.

The chief minister said artificial price hike would be controlled and the prices of essential commodities would be reduced. The provincial government has given top priority to welfare of people and an improved economy would benefit the common man, he added.

The government is taking pragmatic measures for sustainable development of the province, including the merged districts, he said, adding his top priority was to provide relief to people with low income.

Mahmood Khan insisted that his government had zero tolerance for corruption in public sector departments.

He announced reconstruction of Paodand-Saleem Khan and Saleem Khan-Buner roads.

Federal defence minister Pervez Khattak, who also attended the gathering, said the government had taken tough decisions for putting economy on track. The government took loans from other countries and IMF for paying back the money taken by the previous governments.

Castigating the opposition, Mr Khattak said if these political parties had a better programme for governance then the PTI government would follow it.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan has a vision and long-term plan for bringing prosperity to Pakistan,” he said, adding successive governments of Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz were responsible for the country’s economic woes.

Speaking on the occasion, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar promised providing natural gas to consumers across the district and resolving the problems confronted by tobacco growers.

He said the ANP, which dominated the district politics for a long time, had failed to initiate any mega project in Swabi. The PTI government has established Women University Swabi, provided funds for building University of Swabi, established Gajju Khan Medical College, upgraded several hospitals, rebuilt the broken roads and constructed a sports complex in the district, he claimed.

“Many more development projects like a grid station and reconstruction of Swabi-Mardan Road are in the pipeline,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2020