NOWSHERA: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Affairs Pervez Khattak on Saturday said that the incumbent rulers in the province have become completely indifferent to public issues and the welfare and development projects initiated during his tenure have been abandoned.
Addressing a public gathering at Jaba in Nizampur, the former chief minister criticized the provincial government for suspending the development projects, terming it an “anti-people act” that is affecting not only Nowshera but the entire province. He said the closure of schemes meant for public welfare reflects the government’s lack of seriousness and vision for progress.
Khattak also expressed reservations over the gold mining lease granted at the Kabul River site in Nizampur, claiming that the contract was awarded to “favoured contractors” without fulfilling legal requirements. He demanded that the lease be immediately canceled and reissued through a legal and transparent process, ensuring that local communities benefit from the region’s natural resources.
“The first right over Nizampur’s minerals belongs to its people,” he stressed, adding that whoever acquires the lease must also contribute to the area’s development, including roads and other basic infrastructure.
He further said that the committee formed on the matter would soon meet relevant officials to pursue the case to its logical conclusion.
Criticizing the provincial government, Khattak said it lacks any vision for prosperity and development, which has left the people grappling with inflation, unemployment, and an economic crisis. He accused the government of deliberately ignoring Nowshera and other parts of the province, misusing development funds, and depriving citizens of their basic rights.
“The failed policies have disappointed the people, and the process of progress in the province has come to a halt,” he added.