Mardan mayor demands resumption of BKMC project

MARDAN: Mayor Himayatullah Mayar on Wednesday criticised the provincial cabinet’s decision to return the 1,000 kanals land of Bacha Khan Medical College to its owners and said it jeopardised a significant project for the people of the district.

In a statement, Mayar highlighted that during the Awami National Party’s (ANP) government in 2009, 1000 kanals had been allocated for the expansion of the Bacha Khan Medical College. 

The project included various institutions like Bacha Khan College of Dentistry, Mardan College of Nursing, Mardan College of Medical Technology, a dental college with a 200-bed hospital, Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Herbal Medicine campus of Khyber Medical University, PGMI, and a residential complex, along with basic infrastructure.

Mayar argued that the project aimed to consolidate these facilities to serve around 35 percent of the province’s population in one comprehensive medical complex. He expressed disappointment, stating that when the PTI came to power in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, they halted ANP government projects, including the Bacha Khan Medical College expansion.

Mayor Mayar disclosed that the PTI government later decided to return the 1000 kanal land to its owners. He mentioned former provincial minister Atif Khan’s involvement in discussions with property developers to create a housing society on this land. However, due to the dissolution of the provincial assembly, these plans were disrupted.

Mayar pointed out that instead of handing the land back to owners, the caretaker government should pay the landowners and resume the project, otherwise people of Mardan would organise protest rallies.