Peshawar-DI Khan Expressway to develop southern districts

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Thursday said 380 km long Peshawar to Dera Ismail Khan Expressway would usher an era of development and prosperity for the southern districts.

He expressed these views while talking to media during his day-long visit to DI Khan where he inaugurated several uplift projects and launched work on others. Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur, Member National Assembly Yaqoob Sheikh, Advisor to CM on Merged Districts Ajmal Wazir, MPAs and other local representatives were also present on the occasion.

He said the completion of Rs120 billion Chashma Right Bank Canal (CRBC) project, which is also part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would boost the agricultural produce in these districts making them self- sufficient.

During his visit to Dera Ismail Khan, the chief minister announced various development initiatives including giving the status of tehsil to Paniala, starting construction work for Gomal University Campus Pharpur, initiating civil work on Agriculture University DI Khan and speedy completion of other developmental projects in the district.

Mahmood Khan stated that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government is focusing on developmental work throughout the province, adding that the so-called national leaders from DI Khan brought zero development to the southern districts. "People have rejected them for good," he added.

The chief minister made it clear that all developmental projects initiated by the present provincial the government will be completed during the current tenure. During the visit, the chief minister inaugurated newly constructed sports hostel and offices for coaches at the Sports Complex. The project has been constructed at a cost of Rs.64.158 million and covers an area of 20,000 square feet. With 25 rooms, it has the capacity to accommodate 100 players at a time.

Mahmood Khan inaugurated departments and office buildings of District Compound Darzinda DI Khan for which the estimated cost is Rs.31.982 million. He formally launched construction work on the Nakhlistan Kashmir Park at an estimated cost of Rs.34.370 million and food street at a cost of Rs. 68.80 million. The food street will cover 57188 square feet area. The chief minister visited Arid Zone Research Center and inaugurated the already completed facilities there. The centre would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs 691.56 million. Up to 75 per cent work on the project has been completed. Mahmood Khan laid the foundation stones for four Rescue 1122 centres in DI Khan, for which the estimated cost is Rs144.236 million.

The chief minister stated that to resolve the issue of power loadshedding on a permanent basis, the incumbent provincial government had initiated the establishment of three grid stations in DI Khan.

"And one of the stations is fully functional while work on two others is in progress," he added. He said the work on the gas pipeline of Hangu, Kohat and Karak districts with a cost of Rs 9 billion was in progress which would resolve the issue of low gas pressure in DI Khan.

Mahmood Khan reiterated that the construction work on Jandola Road would also be completed soon. He said that for the first time in the history of merged districts, an immense development budget amounting to Rs 83 billion has been earmarked to tribal districts so as to give relief to the public.