CM calls for timely completion of uplift projects

PESHAWAR: Justice (retd) Syed Arshad Hussain Shah on Thursday directed all the provincial departments to ensure completion of public welfare projects within the stipulated timelines without compromising on their quality.

He was speaking at a meeting to review the ongoing developmental activities and other important matters related to various provincial departments.The meeting was briefed about the development projects and other matters of the various provincial departments, including tourism, culture, archaeology and museum, communication & works, livestock, fisheries and cooperative departments, said a handout.

Briefing about the different projects being undertaken by the Tourism Department, it was informed that PTDC’s properties in the province, have been handed over to the provincial tourism department adding that the process for outsourcing these properties under public private partnership has also been initiated which aims to ensure better management as well as making them an effective source of income for the provincial government. The participants were also briefed about the integrated tourism zones (ITZs) being established under the tourism department, and informed that currently, work on three different ITZs is in progress; 480 kanal Ghanol Integrated Tourism Zoon Mansehra would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs5.5 billion, whereas 754 kanal Mankial ITZ, Swat and 540 kanal Madaklasht ITZ, Chitral would be established at an estimated cost of Rs3 billion and Rs3.8 billion, respectively. Other important development projects, including Hund Park, Kumrat-Madaklasht cable car and installation of camping pods at different tourist spots of the province were also discussed in the meeting. Similarly, the participants took an overview of the various cultural events and facilities being provided to the tourists in the province.

About the development portfolio of the Livestock and Fisheries department, it was informed that a total of 41 development projects with the accumulative allocation of Rs1.18 billion have been reflected in the annual development program of the department.