CPEC western route
NOWSHERA: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is bound to honour his promise on the western route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project along with all facilities approved by the All Parties Conference (APC), last year.
“Our government will never compromise on the rights of the province and we will not allow the route to pass through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa if our demands are not met,” the chief minister told the media after attending a gathering at Ashrafkhel in Manki Sharif on Monday.
On this occasion, Kausar Khan, Ashfaq Khan, Muhammad Ali Khan and others along with hundreds of family members and friends announced to quit the Awami National Party and joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Excise and Taxation Minister Mian Jamsheduddin Kakakhel, District Nazim Liaqat Khattak, Tehsil Councillor Ahad Khattak and others were also present.
Pervez Khattak said that his government would raise the voice for the rights of the province and until and unless its reservations over the CPEC are removed, the project will not be allowed to pass through the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He said the KP government didn’t need a road to be constructed under the CPEC project but the federal government must build the western route along with fiber optic cables, industrial zones, etc.
The chief minister said the federal government had sent a letter to KP government about the CPEC project, but there was no mention of construction of the western route of the project, provision of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), fiber optic and railway lines or other facilities.
Pervez Khattak said the provincial government would extend all possible help to those families affected by the recent rains, floods and earthquake.
He came down hard on his political opponents and said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government had curbed corruption and commission in all departments, insisting recruitment in the government departments were being made on merit.
Later, the chief minister along with Mian Jamsheduddin Kakakhel, Liaqat Khattak and others went to the residence of Dilaram Khan and invited him to join the PTI.