Hike in net hydel profit big achievement: Khattak

NOWSHERA: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak disclosed here Saturday that the federal government had increased Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s share from net hydel profit from Rs6 billion to Rs18.70 billion per annum and termed it a big achievement of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial government.
“The federal government has accepted our stand. The credit goes to the provincial government and all the opposition parties. It was a collective effort that made this possible,” the chief minister told reporters here.
He said the National Electric Power Regularity Authority (Nepra) has informed the provincial government about the decision.
The chief minister said his government believed in collective struggle for the rights of the province. “We would not compromise on the interests of the province. We would put politics aside and chalk out a joint strategy to secure the rights of the province,” he added.
He urged the federal government to give the due rights to the provinces and take measures to remove the sense of derivation among the smaller federating units.
He asked the federal government to ensure distribution of resources among the provinces on the basis of population.
He said there was a need for conducting the fresh census in the country.
Pervez Khattak said he had taken strong exception to the deteriorating condition of the Grand Trunk (GT) Road and other roads and bridges and informed the director National Highways Authority about it in writing.
“I have asked them to construct the roads and bridges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he added.
Earlier, chairing a meeting of the councillors of Kheshgi Payan and Bala, Gandheri, Balo and Akbarpura union councils here, the chief minister said the provincial government had devolved powers to the district and tehsil councils. “Now it’s your responsibility to serve the people and ensure transparency in the spending of uplift funds,” he added.
He directed the councillors not to compromise on the standard of the development work and monitor the projects in their respective areas.
He hoped that the present local government system would bring about a revolution in the province.
Our Peshawar Bureau adds: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak Saturday said that the special cabinet committee had finalised recommendations about powers and accountability of the provincial police to further improve performance of the force.
Addressing a 40-member delegation comprising participants of 42nd special training programme of probationer ASPs at his office, he said that in light of the committee’s report, necessary amendments in the Police Act would be introduced.
Dispelling the impression about reduction in the police spending, the chief minister said that no such cut was imposed.
He, however, said that certain police projects were being reviewed in order to identify the unfeasible ones. He said the reforms introduced by the present provincial government in the police yielded desired results in respect of the public service and elimination of corrupt practices.