Staff Reporter Peshawar
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan, during his visit to Lower Dir on Thursday announced several developmental projects worth billions of rupees for the district.
Addressing a public gathering at Lal Qilla he said that one billion rupees development work will be initiated in each constituency of Dir during the current financial year while work is underway on various development projects worth Rs 30 billion in Lower Dir, adding that 30 Km Chakdara-Dir Motorway project has been approved and it would be completed at a cost of Rs. 37 billion.
The Chief Minister announced the establishment of a Cadet College, Greater Water Supply Scheme for Timargarah and a Sports Complex, construction of 45 km long Thal Patrak Kumrat Road, construction of access roads to tourist spots including Bin Shahi, Laram, Jaz Banda etc. He said that Gopalam Irrigation Scheme worth Rs. 5 billion has been approved.
The Chief Minister said that construction work on Chakdara Bypass and Talash Bypass Road will be completed soon while work on Jandol Grid Station is also in the final stages which will be inaugurated soon. In his address Mahmood Khan, said that Swat Motorway Phase-II, Dir Motorway, Peshawar DI Khan Motorway are mega development projects of the incumbent government which on completion, would connect different districts and boost trade activities.
The Chief Minister said that Health Card Plus scheme has been launched to provide free and quality treatment facilities to cent percent population of the province through which every family of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa can avail free treatment up to Rs. 1 million per annum adding that Liver transplants and kidney transplants are also being covered in the scheme.
In addition, a Kisan Card has been launched to assist the farmers under which seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and other facilities will be provided to the farmers at low cost. Besides, Education Card and Food Card will also be launched soon.
The Chief Minister said that Rs 10 billion has been earmarked in the current budget for food cards under which free ration would be provided to the deserving families on a monthly basis.
Referring to the Education Card, the Chief Minister said that under this scheme financial assistance would be provided to the students for their education.
The Chief Minister termed the food security of the province as one of the top priorities of the government and said that the present government was planning under a comprehensive strategy to meet the food needs of the province and a food security policy has been formulated for this purpose.
Describing the southern districts as of importance for food security, the Chief Minister said that the provincial government was working on the Chashma Right Bank Lift Canal project to irrigate the barren lands of these districts.
