CM wants progress on Peshawar Revival Plan

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Sunday directed the authorities concerned to ensure progress and implementation of Peshawar Revival Plan and involve local MPAs in all the development works and initiatives for beautification of the city.

He was presiding over a progress review meeting on Peshawar Revival Plan and performance of Peshawar administration at Chief Minister’s Secretariat, said a handout.

Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Local Government Kamran Bangash, Advisor on Merged Areas Ajmal Wazir, MPA and DDAC Chairman Swat Fazal Hakim Khan, chief minister’s Principal Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Commissioner Peshawar Amjad Ali Khan, deputy commissioner, DG PDA, secretary Local Government and other officials concerned attended the meeting.

The chief minister appreciated the Peshawar district administration over the initiative of “Revenue/open Darbar”. The purpose of the Revenue Darbar is to facilitate public in revenue matters, under which all revenue related services including provision of domicile certificates, mutation, revenue transcripts, land records, registry, etc are provided to the public on the spot.

Mahmood Khan ordered action initiated against drug dealers and steps for the rehabilitation of drug addicts in Peshawar city. He said that a report would also be sought from the Social Welfare Department regarding the progress so far made on rehabilitation of drug addicts. He urged measures to discourage the use of gas cylinders in vehicles. He also emphasised the need to streamline checkposts near Peshawar Motorway Toll Plaza and avoid unnecessary obstacles for vehicular traffic. He sought improvement in the traffic system of Peshawar and availability of traffic signals at all crossings.

The meeting was informed that in the last nine months, the district administration had resolved 58 land acquisition cases, while two Revenue Darbars have been set up, in which 250 complaints have been resolved on the spot.

The meeting was also briefed on the progress made so far in the implementation of the Peshawar Revival Plan, and it was informed that the district administration has held two meetings with the consultation of concerned MPAs, to address problems of the people in Peshawar city.

The meeting was informed that so far, 86 unsafe gas cylinders have been removed from hotels, while 405 gas cylinders have also been removed from school vans. Similarly, gas cylinders were also inspected in 1,651 motorcars and 886 public transport vehicles. In the last one year, 505 operations were carried out in the campaign against encroachments, resulting in the recovery of 579.9 kanals of state land, while 306 markets were inspected, during which 1,164 shops were closed and 1,374 cabins and 475 signboards were removed.

The meeting was informed that under the Peshawar Revival Plan, PC-1 has been approved to restore the historical status of Peshawar city. Under the plan, so far 115 shop signboards have been removed and replaced, and 1,000 plants have been planted near Bacha Khan Flyover. The estimated cost of the planned PC-1 is Rs45 million, including clean and green activities for the city of Peshawar. The meeting was also briefed on the Traffic Management Plan for the city and informed that the short-term planning cost under the Traffic Management Plan of Peshawar City is Rs211.492 million. The entire city is divided into six zones, while Zone F has been started as a pilot project, which may be completed soon.

The chief minister appreciated the proposed plan and said the initiatives would make Peshawar a culturally tourist destination. He said the plan for restoration and enhancement of the historical status of Peshawar city should be ensured in a phased manner. He said that after successful implementation of the proposed plan in Peshawar city, the plan would be extended to other divisional headquarters and major cities of the province.