PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan Thursday said the work is in progress on various development projects worth Rs 30 billion in Lower Dir.
He said that 30-KM Chakdara-Dir Motorway project has also been approved which would be completed at a cost of Rs. 37 billion.
He said that development work of Rs.1 billion will be initiated in each constituency of Dir during the current financial year.
Addressing a public gathering at Lal Qilla, district Dir Lower, the Chief Minister announced the establishment of a Cadet College, Greater Water Supply Scheme for Timergarah 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 added that Gopalam Irrigation Scheme worth Rs. 5 billion has also been approved.
The Chief Minister said that construction work on Chakdara Bypass and Talash Bypass Roads will be completed soon while work on Jandol Grid Station is also in the final stages which will be inaugurated soon.
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 in the province.
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 also been launched to provide relief to farmers in buying seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and other agriculture related items 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.
The Chief Minister said that during the last three years, seven economic zones had been established in different districts of the province while work is underway to establish more economic zones.
He said that merger of the tribal districts has been completed amicably and development projects worth billions of rupees have been planned to address the backwardness of the area.
The Chief Minister said that the whole of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was being connected to CPEC through motorways, which would not only provide transport facilities to the people but also boost trade and economic activities in the province adding that the provincial government was working to make the province a hub of business and trade activities.