CHITRAL: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan paid a day-long visit to Lower Chitral and inaugurated development projects and addressed a public gathering in the town on Tuesday.
- Says Chitral economic zone to create 8,000 jobs
- Singoor bridge built at a cost of Rs700m inaugurated
- Opens Denin bypass and Ayun-Kalash valleys bridge
- Groundbreaking on Kalkatak-Chitral road and Broze bridge performed.
The chief minister commercially launched the Chitral Economic Zone which is expected to create 8,000 direct and indirect job opportunities while an investment of Rs620 million is expected in the economic zone.
During the visit, the chief minister inaugurated Singoor Bridge which has been constructed at a cost of Rs700 million. Denin bypass road, Ayun-Kalash valleys bridge have been constructed at a cost of Rs50 million, Rs82 million, respectively.
The chief minister also inaugurated rescue station and BS Block at Degree College Chitral which were established at a cost of Rs64 million and 89 million, respectively.
He also performed the groundbreaking of a 46-km-long Kalash Valleys road which would be constructed at a total cost of Rs4.2 billion. The chief minister also launched beautification of Lower Chitral project worth Rs280 million.
Addressing the public gathering at Chitral town, he announced several new projects for the district. He announced to give permanent status to employees hired under the settlement of land project in Chitral. He also increased firewood allowance for government employees from Rs45 to Rs100 per day besides announcing establishment of a media colony for journalists, upgradation of women and children hospital, establishment of women resource centre and construction of Drosh bypass.
Addressing the gathering, the chief minister said that a scheme to establish a sports complex in Lower Chitral was reflected in the current annual development programme. The establishment of colleges in Drosh and Garam Chashma had been included in the development programme, adding that Rs1.28 billion were earmarked in the current budget for Chitral University.
He stated that work on the projects worth Rs33 billion was underway in the district which on completion would bring about a positive change in the district. Physical work on Chitral-Booni-Mastuj road would be started soon. He said the provincial government was working on several projects of highways and economic zones in the province which would make the province a hub of trade and industrial activities in next four to five years.
He said the establishment of Chitral Economic Zone would usher in a new era of development in the region and create employment opportunities.
The government is fully aware of the difficulties faced by the people due to inflation and concrete steps are being taken to reduce this inflation and provide maximum relief to the poor and middle class of society.