PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Friday said that it was one of the top priorities of his government to provide employment opportunities to the people in the province and promote self-employment among talented youth.

In a meeting with a delegation from the Asian Development Bank at the Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad, the chief minister declared the ADB an important development partner of the provincial government.

“We [government] want to continue with this partnership in a more integrated and effective manner,” he told visitors.

The delegation discussed with the chief minister matters related to ADB-KP cooperation, with a focus on development projects for public welfare being carried out in the province with the assistance of the bank, according to an official statement issued here.

Provincial minister Arshad Ayub was also present in the meeting.

The chief minister said work was in progress on a number of development projects in various sectors with the financial assistance of the ADB.

He, however, said that the provincial government wanted to further enhance and extend the cooperation and partnership with the ADB in other sectors, including water supply, solar energy, flood protection, solid waste management, urban transport, agriculture, livestock, food security, and social services.

“We expect special cooperation from our development partner for the development of newly merged districts and other backward areas of the province,” he said.

Mr Gandapur said that a programme was in the works to “renovate” all major cities in the province.

He said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project, assisted by the ADB, was an important project of the provincial government.

“We need special cooperation for implementing Phase II of this project as well,” he said.

The chief minister said that the provincial government had a lot to do in different sectors, especially in tourism, health, education, and public health engineering.

He said that his government would like to work in partnership with the ADB to provide basic facilities in the social services sector.

The visitors told the chief minister that the coordination between his government and the ADB for development work in the province was excellent.

They said that the performance of the provincial government’s team regarding the implementation of development projects was remarkable.

The delegates said that the Asian Development Bank intended to promote cooperation and development partnerships with the provincial government in different sectors.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...