KP govt implementing reform agenda: Khattak

Opens 150-kw mini hydro power project in Swat; launches Rescue 1122 service

MINGORA: Vowing to implement agenda of change, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said on Saturday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was bringing revolutionary changes in the power, health and education sectors.

He was addressing a large gathering at the inaugural ceremony of the 150-kilowatt mini hydro power project at Lalkoo area in Sakhra valley of Matta tehsil in Swat district.

The power project was constructed by the Sarhad Rural Support Programme in collaboration with the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (PEDO).

Pervez Khattak said that system in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was marred by mismanagement, where the previous governments didn’t carry out visible uplift works.

“In the first phase, our government is going to complete 356 mini-hydro power units in the northern districts of KP while in the second phase, work on several more units will be started, which will rid the province of loadshedding,” he said. Criticising the federal government, he said it didn’t even provide the required 13 and half percent share of electricity to the province and gave only 10 percent since 2010.

He said the federal government deliberately carried out prolonged power loadshedding in KP. “We will soon close all the offices of Pesco in the province in protest against the undue power loadshedding,” he said, adding that Amir Muqam, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and adviser to prime minister, should first give due right of the electricity to Swat.

He said that 300 million of the Billion Tree Tsunami project had already been planted while another 300 million more saplings would soon be planted.

“The Billion Tree Tsunami will be a historical project, which will bring about a change in the real sense not only in the province but also in the entire country,” he said.

He approved number of projects for the valley including land for a graveyard, a BHU, a 13 km road from Sakhra to Gabina Jabba, land for the Khpal Kor Foundation at Matta and Rokhana Pakhtunkhwa programme in Swat.

Earlier, provincial Minister for Sports and Tourism Mehmood Khan and Ehsanullah Khan, representative of SRSP, welcomed the chief minister and other guests.

A large number of local communities in Lalkoo valley were present on the occasion.

Zahid Khan, programme manager SRSP, said several mini-hydel power stations, being built under the Peace project of the European Union, were near completion in various areas of Swat, Upper Dir, Shangla, Chitral and Kohistan.

“The problem of loadshedding would come an end with the completion of these protects in various areas including the scenic valley of Kalam in Swat,” he maintained.

He said that 21.7 megawatt electricity would be generated under the EU-funded project while 4.2 megawatt would be produced under the PEDO-SRSP initiatives.

Meanwhile, the chief minister Pervez Khattak on Saturday inaugurated Rescue 1122 Service in Saidu Sharif in Swat district. Provincial Sports Minister Mehmood Khan, District Nazim Muhammad Ali Shah, Member National Assembly Murad Saeed, Members Provincial Assembly Fazal Hakeem Khan, Azizullah Gran and others were present.