SWABI: Non-provision of funds has forced the local contractors to stop work on key projects initiated recently by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led provincial government here in the district, sources in the communication and works department said here on Friday.

Requesting anonymity, they said that Akhtar Ali Shah, chairman of the provincial inspection team, visited the district two days ago and he was told by officials of the C&W department that due to non-provision of funds the contractors had halted construction activities on different projects in the district.

They said that Mr Shah visited different projects and even inspected those where construction had been halted. They contractors have been demanding that the government should ensure payment to them according to the rules.

Non-provision of funds cited as reason

The sources said that construction activities at the much-awaited Gaju Khan Medical College, Swabi, had been stopped by contractor as the government failed to pay him the required funds. Some important buildings and accommodation apartments for the college staff were under construction at an estimated cost of about Rs1 billion.

They sources said that KP Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar had been striving for early start of the medical college. They said that work had also been stopped at Kunda-Zaida road which passed through Mr Qaisar’s native village, Marghuz. They said that sports stadium at Bamkel and Kund Park road were other important projects which fell victim to unavailability of funds.

When contacted, Swabi Contractors Association president Mazhar Khan confirmed that the contractors had stopped work on these projects. However, he said that work was underway on a few projects where contractors were spending their own money.

Answering a question, he said that they had met Mr Qaisar and health minister Shahram Tarakai, but they could not take any step beyond verbal assurances that the funds would be released soon.

Published in Dawn November 12th, 2016