KOHAT, Nov 21: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has said that a road will be constructed at a cost of Rs2.7 billion to connect Kohat to Nowshera district.

Addressing a public meeting here at Company Park during his visit to the city on Monday, he also sanctioned Rs200 million as special grant for all the three constituencies of Kohat.

The amount would be utilised on the advice of local residents and party activists on development schemes.Replying to the demands made in the welcome address by district president of Awami National Party Dr Saeed Shah, the chief minister extended the deadline, set for people of Jarma to deposit money to get state land, from two months to six months.

He said that a township would be established in Jarma. He also announced setting up Bacha Khan Education Academy in the city.

Mr Hoti announced construction of a new barroom for lawyers and approved Rs10 million for it. He ordered the minister for information to find a suitable piece of land for construction of media colony.

The chief minister directed the administration to resolve land dispute between residents of Muhammadzai village of Kohat and Bizote tribe of Orakzai Agency amicably.

He promised that he would soon visit Kohat again to attend a ceremony to upgrade district headquarters hospital to category A with an initial grant of Rs20 million and establish emergency unit that would cost Rs70 million.

The chief minister announced Rs90 million for improving infrastructure of various faculties of Kohat University of Science and Technology.

On the occasion, he renewed offer of dialogue to militants for restoration of peace in the province and Fata. Though militants violated the earlier peace agreements but talks were the only solution for restoration of peace, he added.

“Today's economic and security situation in the country proved the decision of our leaders, who were termed traitors for their stand, right and the pro-US forces that took part in Afghan war for dollars completely wrong,” he said.

He asked those people, who took part in Afghan war at the behest of the US despite repeated warnings by Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Khan Abdul Wali Khan to stay away from the fight against the former USSR, to seek pardon from the graves of their leaders.

Mr Hoti blamed the then leaders and the pro-US forces for bringing the war against terrorism to Fata, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the whole country.

He regretted that the US was asking Pakistan to do more as it was not satisfied with the heavy price the country paid in the shape of sacrifices of 35,000 people including 5,000 security men in the war.

“I appeal and request militants to lay down arms and start peace talks with the government because the country can't bear more brunt of the war of aliens, which has been imposed on us,” he added.