LOWER DIR: Awami National Party’s central spokesman Zahid Khan claimed on Tuesday that the Chakdara-Chitral expressway was the previous government’s project that was designed for the people of Dir and Chitral.

Talking to mediapersons here in Odigram, the former senator asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister and federal minister Murad Saeed to get approval for another motorway for Swat instead of diverting the funds meant for Chakdara-Chitral expressway.

He said that Dir, Chitral and Bajaur were being deprived of their due share in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project that would not be tolerated.

The ANP leader alleged that the PTI government had failed to deliver on its election promises. He claimed that ANP was the only political party that completed development projects in the province. He added that gas supply to Lower Dir had begun during the ANP-led government in the province.

Meanwhile, Lower Dir’s District Development Advisory Committee chairman MPA Liaquat Ali said on Tuesday that all health professionals deserved appreciation for their services to tackle the Covid-19 emergency.

He was speaking at a function after distributing commendation certificates and shields among doctors, nurses and paramedics at the DHQ hospital, Timergara, as chief guest. The function was also addressed by the hospital MS Dr Shaukat Ali, Provincial Doctors Association president Dr Nadar Khan and provincial president of nurses’ association Inayatul Haq.

BAN ON CONSTRUCTION: Lower Dir deputy commissioner Saadat Hassan on Tuesday imposed section 144 banning construction on the state land in Samarbagh subdivision.

A notification issued by the DC in this regard said all kinds of sale, purchase, exchange and construction on state land had been banned and the violators would face legal actions. The order will remain in force for 30 days.

GAS FACILITY SOUGHT: The residents of Chakdara have demanded of the government to provide natural gas facility to the area.

Speaking at a press conference here the other day, they complained that the chief minister had announced that gas connections would be given to all parts of Chakdara, but to no avail. They also urged MNA Syed Mehboob Shah to give preference to Chakdara in development projects.

Meanwhile, special assistant to the chief minister on anti-corruption MPA Shafiullah Khan said that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government was committed to eradicating corruption.

He was addressing a meeting of party workers after inaugurating a road project in Barikot Talash the other day. Other speakers said the PTI government would complete record development projects in Dir.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2020