KHYBER: Local government representatives here have accused the provincial government of delay in release of development funds, stalling the execution of schemes across the Khyber district.

Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, Landi Kotal tehsil chairman Shah Khalid Shinwari said that the previous provincial government had in 2020 sanctioned various development schemes for the newly-merged districts under the Accelerated Implementation Programme (AIP) in its effort to bring the region on a par with rest of the province.

He said that the government had also included the renovation and upgradation of four primary girls’ schools in Landi Kotal and as many in Jamrud in the plan.

He added that different public health schemes, mostly water supply schemes, were also included in the programme. He said most parts of Landi Kotal were faced with acute shortage of drinking water.

Mr Shinwari said that while the construction and repair work on all the Jamrud schools was in final stages, only boundary walls of girls’ schools in Ashkhel, Ghbatgee Pasedkhel, Pragdara and Loe Shalman had so far been completed.

The tehsil chairman said that some 20 water supply schemes were also affected by the delay in release of funds as these schemes were not yet provided with the solar panels for making them functional.

He accused the chief minister’s adviser on communications and works of prioritising all the development funds for his PK-70 constituency, while depriving the other two tehsils of their legitimate development projects.

He said the delay in release of funds was also financially overburdening the provincial government as cost of the schemes had escalated.

He demanded of the chief minister and the chief secretary to look into the matter and help release all the required funds to Landi Kotal tehsil without delay.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2025