Dassu, Bhasha dams to become lifelines for KP’s economy

PESHAWAR: A meeting on Thursday decided to launch infrastructure projects in the small cities and the development of existing infrastructure in the big cities throughout the province with focus on road communication, education, health, water supply and efficient social services.

The meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and Federal Minister for Power Umar Ayub Khan, agreed to accelerate the process of work on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor-related projects, said a handout.

The chief minister assured new schemes for the newly merged districts and said that Dassu and Bhasha dams would become the lifelines for the province’s economy. Umar Ayub Khan assured to release forthwith Rs20 billion as a part of the net hydel profit due against the federal government. The chief minister agreed to the lease of PTCL building to start classes of the Haripur Medical College for a period of five years. He agreed to upgrading of category-B Hospital to category-A, and the recruitment of doctors and other staff.

The chief minister also agreed to the Makanyal Development Authority and directed to review the existing laws of the KPEZDMC and environmental economic zone and other industrial zones. He assured funding for the establishment of mother and children’s hospital in Haripur and provision of resources to complete the Chapara dam.

The children’s hospital and a trauma centre would be rehabilitated and funding would be provided to all districts throughout the province, for which a uniform resource distribution strategy has already been evolved, he added.