Gandapur asks Centre to pay hydel power profit arrears to KP

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Spelling out the priorities of his government, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Friday said that he was working to overcome the energy crisis and control the law and order.

Speaking at a press conference here, he advised the people to start a livestock business.

He said that after assuming power, he restored the Sehat Sahulat Card to provide free of charge treatment facilities to the people. “The government is also paying attention to the development of the merged districts,” he said, adding, the next budget would be people friendly.

He said that his government compensated the people who sustained losses during the recent heavy rains. Reiterating the demand, he called upon the federal government to pay back Khyber Pakhtunkhwa its arrears on account of the net hydel profit failing which the two movements would be launched one by his party and the other by the people of the province. He added that his government was taking steps to provide health and education facilities to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The reforms would be introduced in the education sector, he said, adding in some areas the teachers were getting salaries but they were not performing duty. The chief minister said that the government was working for the uplift of the underdeveloped areas. He said the government would spend money on the people. It was the priority of the government to construct the Tank Zam and other dams, he added. He maintained that the government was working on hydropower projects, adding that the power generation from these would be supplied to the economic zones. The chief minister said that the revenue being generated by the departments would be spent on their capacity building so that the employees could improve their performance. “Efforts are being made to fight corruption,” he added. The chief minister said that his government would not tolerate corrupt practices.

He said that action would be taken from top to eradicate the menace of corruption. The chief minister said that the provincial government was working as per the vision of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan. He urged the officials of the government departments to perform their duty with honesty. He advised the people not to look for government jobs and instead start businesses. He said that class-IV employees retired on the same scale. A piece of legislation would soon be introduced in the provincial assembly to bring strict punishment for drug pushers and smugglers, he added.