PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has directed the relevant departments to improve overall sanitation, expedite anti-encroachment drive and design project for reconstruction of all dilapidated school buildings in Peshawar and its vicinities.

He also called for demarcating and notifying jurisdictions of Peshawar Development Authority (PDA), Water Supply and Sanitation Company (WSSC) and tehsil municipal administrations (TMAs) within one week to ensure provision of quality municipal services to the residents of the provincial capital.

The chief minister issued these directives while chairing a meeting here on Thursday to review progress on the developmental schemes and public issues in Peshawar and Nowshera districts, according to an official statement.

The meeting was briefed about the implementation status of the directives issued in the previous meeting regarding timely resolution of public issues and developmental schemes of Peshawar region.

The meeting was told that reconstruction of 28 different schools in Nowshera had also been included in current Annual Development Programme.

Reconstruction of 28 Nowshera schools included in ADP

Officials said that a total of 37 directives were issued to the departments concerned during the previous meeting and 17 were fully implemented and enforcement of 16 decisions was in progress while implementation of the rest of the directives was slow.

The meeting was told that Rs35.51 million was allocated for various projects of roads infrastructure in Peshawar.

The PC-I for the drainage of Ahmadkhel Talab has been prepared and that scheme would be included in the next ADP.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs26.3 million.

Similarly, the meeting was told that a scheme for reconstruction and rehabilitation of 15 schools in Peshawar was included in current ADP while work on eight schools was already in progress. Under Peshawar schools development plan, reconstruction and rehabilitation of 277 schools was proposed.

The meeting was briefed that required funds were provided for the construction of main Charsadda road that increased the pace of work on it.

Purchase of vehicles for funerals in Town-I and Town-II is underway and the process will be completed within one month.

About anti-encroachment drive, the meeting was informed that 90-kanal had been retrieved so far.

Similarly, a scheme of Rs500 million was reflected in ADP for the beautification of Phase-II, Hayatabad out of which Rs187 was utilised so far on revival of roads, drains and parks.

The meeting was informed that Pesco Board already approved the updated Net-Metering Policy (NMP) across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to facilitate the consumers.

A dedicated anti-ice desk has been established at police lines in Peshawar. Primary function of the desk is identification of the main culprits of the supply network of the drug.

Officials said that district administration had taken action against those plazas that occupied parking lots illegally.

They said PDA, assistant commissioner and traffic police inspected 28 plazas during a joint action in different areas.

The meeting was told that construction of additional parking plazas on University Road was also a part of uplift scheme.

The meeting decided to constitute a steering committee to ensure strict implementation of building bylaws in the provincial metropolitan.

About the initiatives taken so far to improve the gas supply network in Peshawar, the meeting was informed that during the last fiscal 70.5 kilometres long network was replaced whereas replacement of additional 71 kilometres long gas supply line was approved in current fiscal out of which 21 kilometres line was replaced so far.

Mahmood Khan directed the quarters concerned to strengthen and equip TMAs in rest of the districts to provide better services to people.

He asked Pesco to make necessary arrangements to minimise power breakdown in the upcoming summer and ensure replacement of out of order transformers.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2021