‘Several projects launched in Peshawar’

PESHAWAR: Commissioner of Peshawar Division Riaz Mahsud on Wednesday resented the campaign launched on social media against development projects in Peshawar and termed the drive factually incorrect, misleading in figures, and aimed at undermining efforts.

Responding to the allegations, the commissioner clarified that the claim about a fence being built for Rs7 billion under the uplift programme was baseless.He stated that the actual project — a 6-kilometre jogging and cycling track in Hayatabad— was approved at Rs370 million.

The facility, nearing completion, includes separate lanes for jogging and cycling, open gyms, rest points, gazebos, washrooms, and other modern urban amenities.Similarly, he refuted the accusations of financial bungling in the Drug Free Peshawar initiative as unsubstantiated and unsupported by any evidence.

Riaz Mahsud noted that over 3,800 drug-dependent individuals were successfully treated and reunited with their families during the first three phases of the programme, which earned national and international recognition.

He said the fourth phase, set to begin this week, will bring an estimated 300-400 remaining individuals off the streets and into rehabilitation centres. The commissioner said, notably, no funds had yet been spent from the allocated budget for this phase, which remains secure with the Social Welfare Department.The social media campaign said that nearly one million illegal immigrants reside in Peshawar, placing responsibility on the commissioner and the PDA.