KP CM Mahmood Khan says agriculture sector in DI Khan to be developed

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Sunday said the agriculture land in Dera Ismail Khan would be developed by setting up watercourses.

He was having a meeting with a delegation from Dera Ismail Khan, led by Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Ali Amin Gandapur, at the Chief Minister’s House Peshawar. According to an official handout, the meeting was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister on Merged Districts Ajmal Wazir, members of KP Assembly from Dera Ismail Khan, administrative secretaries of the departments concerned and other officials.

The participants of the meeting were briefed about the upgrading of Agriculture Faculty to Agriculture University, establishment of nurseries for fisheries, watercourses, Chashma Right Bank Canal project, road infrastructure maintenance, drinking water problems, agricultural, drainage issues, health, education and other important issues of Dera Ismail Khan. The chief minister asked the local government officials to resolve the drainage issue in Dera Ismail Khan on a priority basis.

Mahmood Khan hoped the supply of power to the industrial zones in Dera Ismail Khan through wheeling would attract investors through the provision of cheap electricity thereby promoting industrialization in the province.

He directed to initiate work on Chashma Right Bank Lift Canal (CRBC) project which would be made possible jointly by the Provincial Agriculture and Irrigation Departments. Completion of this project would help irrigate over 300,000 acres of agricultural land.

The chief minister said Peshawar to Dera Ismail Khan Expressway would enhance commercial and economic activities in Dera Ismail Khan while water supply would be available to rural areas as well with the completion of Gomal Zam Dam projects.

He directed the officials to resolve the problem of drinking water in the Tank district, adding that the schemes in this respect had already been identified.

Mahmood Khan directed the Tank deputy commissioner to ensure implementation of all the small and major developmental schemes after consulting public representatives.

Earlier, the participants of the meeting were informed that Rs.360 million had been allocated for 85 different schemes in the educational sector whereas the establishment of 11 new primary schools had been completed while work on four remaining primary schools was underway.

Five Masjid schools have been converted into regular schools while one was in the tendering phase. Similarly, five primary schools have been upgraded to the middle level while five high schools upgraded to higher secondary schools. Mahmood Khan said that provision of doctors and other allied staff for new wards of Dera Ismail Khan District Headquarters Hospital would be ensured.