PESHAWAR - Khyber Pakhutunkhawa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak Sunday directed the authorities to achieve 100 per cent targets of the development schemes for uplift and beautification of Peshawar.
The chief minister was talking to government officials and media persons on the occasion of the foundation stone laying ceremonies of two important projects including expansion of Peshawar Ring Road and construction of new vast bridge on Budhni Nullah on Charsadda Road. He said: “We will have to work all and sundry to revive the past glory of this historical city being the gateway of central Asia having rich cultural and aesthetic heritage.”
He said that tenders for Peshawar Mass Transit have been floated and practical work on the mega project will start after Eidul Fiter.
The completion of the project, he asserted, besides resolving the grave traffic mess in the city will multiply the environmental beauty of the city to attract tourists across the world.
Minister for Mineral Development and Focal Person for Peshawar Mega Projects, Ziaullah Afridi, Minister for Local Government & Rural Development Inayatullah, Director General Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) Mohammad Saleem Khan, Director Engineering Aminuddin, Pakhtunkhwa Highway Authority (PHA) MD,Javed Ehsan, Director Construction Engineer Mohammad Uzair, Administration MCP Rasheed Ahmad Khan and other higher authorities of PDA and PHA were present on the occassion.
The chief minister said that after successful holding of All Parties Conference (APC) on the IDPs of North Waziristan, the government on the proposal of the participants has decided to convene another APC for Regional Peace.
He said, besides, all politicians and parliamentary leaders, former chief ministers, governors and members of the parliament would also be invited to the conference.
On this occasion, the chief minister was told that the beautification and extension of the four-kilometer Pir Zakori Bridge to Charsadda Road Intersection of the Ring Road will cost about Rs 90 million and the PDA will complete it within a period of eight months. The project included the expansion of one more lane on both sides of Ring Road to extend it to three lanes of each side, construction of two important bridges and installation of solar lights.
Similarly, the new tall and wide bridge on Budhni Nullah will be constructed by Pakhtunkhwa Highway Authority (PHA) at the cost of Rs150m within a period of six months. It would also be protected from the floods. Furthermore, Mufti Mehmood Flyover to Landay Sarak Road Section of the Charsadda Road will also be expanded at the cost of Rs 150m.
The chief minister directed Peshawar Development Authority for acceleration of the pace of work on Rs 700 million Charsadda Road Intersection Flyover and remaining sections to Pajgai Road and forward to Regi Township and Jamrud Road.
He said the process of implementation has been started and every department would have to give candid results. He said that the excuse of the lack of resources will not affect the availability of funds for any development plan. He said that Peshawar was a city of the flowers and gardens and its history and old cultural glory will be restored at any cost.
During both ceremonies the chief minister directed the authorities for bringing more improvement in the development schemes.
On this occasion, departments and authorities briefed the chief minister on the progress, development and beautification plans prepared for the city.
He was told about the rehabilitation and expansion of the city roads including the conversion of Karkhano Market to Hayatabad Phase-III Intersection into four-lanes and construction of 19-feet service road on both sides of Ring Road and its remaining Pajagai Road to Warsak Road and merger of the service road on G.T. Road to Hayatabad.
All bargains and show-rooms from the city including University Road will be shifted to a suitable vast piece of land outside the city. The officers of nation building departments assured the chief minster that they will work round the clock even during the holy month of Ramazan to give Peshawarites a different and changed beautiful city as soon as possible and may be after Eid and before the Independent day celebrations.