No politics on CPEC: Khattak

Asks PM to honour pledges on western route; announces tehsil status for Khanpur, other schemes in Haripur

HARIPUR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said on Saturday that no-one should play politics on the issue of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the western route of the corridor should have all the facilities given to the central route as per commitment of the prime minister.

“The western route should be started and completed first as had been pledged by the prime minister in the All Parties Conference,” he said while speaking at a gathering during his visit to Haripur district.

The chief minister also announced tehsil status for Khanpur, Rs150 million for beautification of Haripur city, land for graveyard, and expediting construction work on women and children’s hospital.

He also announced a university in Haripur, Rs2.5 billion for Haripur Bypass, upgradation of Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, upgradation of primary schools and BHUs, construction of road from Havelian to cantonment, Rs50 million for power supply and sanitation schemes in Havelian, provision of Rs10 million for a bridge.

The chief minister said that when the PTI came into power, there were challenges of corruption, poor governance, nepotism, commissions in government projects, target killings, terrorism and kidnapping and badly damaged infrastructure. However, he said, the system was streamlined and record legislation was made to ensure good governance.

Former provincial minister Yousaf Ayub Khan, Advisor to CM on C&W Akbar Ayub Khan, Advisor to CM Mushtaq Ghani and other notables of the area were also present on the occasion.

The chief minister alleged that jobs were sold in previous governments in the province. He added that his party was voted to power only for bringing about a positive change and securing rights of common man.

He termed the Right to Services law as a key step towards ending the culture of corruption from government departments.

About the performance of his government, he claimed that the PTI government had brought an end to the political interference in all government departments during the last three years.

“We have purged the police, education and health departments of political interference,” he added.

He said that 40,000 new teachers and 1000 doctors were hired to meet the staff deficiency in public sector schools and hospitals.

He lamented that the political leadership in the past promoted corruption and irregularities that was the root cause of all ills.

Pervez Khattak called upon the people to strengthen the hands of Imran Khan for the final and decisive phase for the accountability of the corrupt rulers and dislodging them through the public strength.

The chief minister said the political leadership could not escape its responsibility for the degradation, all the ills of society and defaming the country. The political leadership promoted hooliganism and looted the national resources. It destroyed the political structure and rendered the public sector institutions in total disarray.

His government launched crusade to bring about and install a new system in the province under which institutions were subservient to the will of the people.  He asked the people to stand against the corrupt rulers and promote a honest leadership.