KP’s reservations about CPEC addressed to great extent: CM

Another round of talks with Ahsan Iqbal soon

NOWSHERA: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Saturday termed the federal government reply to the letter about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as satisfactory.

Addressing a public meeting in Sher Garhi in Pabbi here, he said the provincial government was critically reviewing the letter dispatched by the federal government to it.

“The federal government has addressed the reservations of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to a great extent,” he added.

He said the government would issue the letter to the media after complete deliberation and examining its every aspect carefully.

He said the provincial government would soon hold next round of negotiations regarding the CPEC with the Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal.

The chief minister said matters pertaining to the launch of development work, estimated cost and time frame for completion of these projects would be discussed in the meeting.

The chief minister expressed his gratitude to the federal government for replying to the letter and addressing reservations of the provincial government.  

Pervez Khattak said maintenance of law and order in the province was the prime objective of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.

He said the provincial police force and security forces were carrying out action against terrorists and anti-social elements for the noble cause of peace.

The law and order has improved in the province, he said, adding, the National Action Plan was being implemented in letter and spirit in the province to wipe out militancy.

The chief minister said the independent institutions in their reports have shown satisfaction over the governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and appreciated the provincial government’s performance. He said the other provinces were emulating the success of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. The chief minister said to serve the poor was the theme of the PTI-led government and that’s why the government was revamping the decades-old faulty system to provide them relief.

“Change cannot be brought about through construction of streets, roads and buildings but by improving the performance of the institutions,” he added.

The chief minister maintained that the provincial government was working on various projects in health, education, drinking water, construction of roads and others.

The government improved the standard of healthcare facilities and education in government schools, he said, adding, the government was spending billions of rupees on education sector and recruited 24,000 teachers on merit to overcome shortage of teachers in the schools.   He said that another 16,000 fresh recruitments of teachers would be made this year.

Earlier, Munawar Kamal and a village nazim Pir Asif announced joining the PTI. The local people presented a charter of demands to the chief minister which he accepted and issued directives to the concerned authorities in this regard.