DERA GHAZI KHAN: Chief Minister Usman Khan Buzdar visited Darug, Phagla, and Vahua areas of tehsil Koh-e-Sulaiman and tehsil Taunsa of Dera Ghazi Khan district on Saturday, inaugurated 24 development projects worth Rs2.5bn. He also announced setting up a university at Taunsa.

Mr Buzdar inaugurated Shah Suleiman Stadium, Sports Gymnasium and Panahgah whereas Rescue1122 centres for Fazila Kach and Barthi besides the Border Military Police Station for Hangloon Kuchh, Fazila Kach, Mubarki and Barthi. The projects of Kamal Park, City Park and Food Godown Park, installation of tuff tiles project in Union Council Boher, Makwal were also launched by the CM while road projects from Kalma Chowk to Sanghar and Mohalla Sheikhanwala, from Indus Highway to Basti Hadmar and Basti Bait Ashraf Road were inaugurated by him.

Announces a university in Taunsa during his visit

Besides, the CM launched a sewerage and tuff tiles project in Kharar Buzdar Union Council Mubaraki, a road at Fazila Kach Dostlani Market and sewerage and tuff tiles for Sardar Kalat Union Council Barthi. Mines and minerals dispensaries were launched at Daaher, Gulki and Salaar Band.

The CM laid the foundation stone of 17km long from Chowki Wala dual carriageway road and 5km long Indus High School Road from Indus Highway Kot Mor to Tain via Basti Laghari-Jarlagari road, from Indus Highway Naari South to Langerwali Road.

The chief minister launched projects of a rest house in Taunsa and a social security hospital in Chowkiwala and announced setting up the Taunsa University at the cost of Rs2bn.

Speaking on the occasion, he said the Sangher Bridge project worth Rs580m had been approved while the contract for Lalu Daira Shah embankment worth Rs11bn had been awarded.

Mr Buzdar asserted that sewerage would be improved in Taunsa city at the cost of Rs620m and tuff tiles would be installed in the city. A new cement factory would be set up in Shadan Lund, he said and added that dualization of Mangrotha to Saakar road had been approved at a cost of Rs370m. A livestock farm would be set up at a cost of Rs240 while a project of streetlights would be completed soon besides 107 power supply schemes.

The CM said project of Shorkot, Layyah, Taunsa, Chowkiwala, Barthi, Chhapar Balochistan road was being reviewed and it would cost Rs29bn while a 132KW grid was also being set up in Barthi. He added that the Indus Highway road from Ramak to Kashmoor would be repaired, a library would also be set up in Taunsa city, 43 kanals of land had been allotted for the welfare projects besides beatification of Taunsa where eight almonries would be set up in the district and three in Taunsa.

CM Buzdar approved the posts in police, education and health, livestock and social welfare as well as other departments in DG Khan. Recruitment has been approved for 329 posts in Baloch Levy and 145 posts in Border Military Police.

Usman Buzdar visited Phagla, a tribal area of DG Khan, and launched many projects, including the construction of 48km long road from Mithwaan to Chaterotaat a cost of Rs390m and the phase-1 of 21km long Koher to Phula road at a sum of Rs350m.

Later, he went to Vahua and inaugurated various public welfare projects, including a Rescue1122 centre and police station at Vahua and a Rescue 1122 Satellite Centre for Tibi Qaisrani. He inaugurated road projects costing Rs120m and laid the foundation stone of 12 development schemes worth over Rs1bn.

CM Buzdar also laid the foundation stone of the Mithaywali water supply scheme and a family park in Vahua, KungNullah Project and Cricket Stadium at Kot Qaisrani.

He said areas like Vahua were badly neglected in the past and the people of area were deprived from basic amenities and added that solid measures were being taken for the development of remote areas.

Later, the CM visited Federal Secretary Religious Affairs Ijaz Khan Jaffer in Derug, Balochistan and condoled with him at the demise of his mother.

He handed over a school bus and Rescue1122 ambulance to the Balochistan government as a gift from the Punjab.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2021