DLP Report
DIR LOWER
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Saturday paid a day long visit to District Dir Lower, where he inaugurated the newly constructed 40.8 Megawatt Koto Hydropower Project, completed at a total cost of Rs 21.7 billion.
The project is expected to generate 207 million units of electricity annually, bringing an estimated revenue of Rs 2.4 billion per annum.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the 18.5 Km Tormang-Razgram Road, constructed at a cost of Rs 1.5 billion.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi said the provincial government is working under a long term strategy to transform the province’s hydropower resources into a foundation for economic growth. He said that clean and green energy projects will play a pivotal role in job creation alongside industrial development.
He further said that establishment of province’s first ever power transmission line of 120 kms is also in pipeline and once completed, it will enable the transmission of electricity generated from 11 local power stations to industries. The power produced by local hydropower plants, he added, will be supplied to industries at concessional rates, as industrial expansion is essential for reducing unemployment.
The Chief Minister further stated that the provincial government will extend full support for establishing its own power distribution system. “The people of this province have the first right over its natural resources,” he said.
He expressed regret that foreign engineers working on development projects in the province are unable to visit the province due to delays in issuance of NOCs, adding that delays in completion of projects are causing loss not only to the province but entire nation.
Speaking about former Prime Minister Imran Khan, he said “Imran Khan has always had genuine concern for the people. I feel proud when I see the projects he initiated, because they were truly designed for the welfare and development of ordinary citizens.
He launched long-term, transformative initiatives without worrying about who would inaugurate them later.”
The Chief Minister reiterated that the federal government owes KP Rs 3 trillion, pending for several years.
The chief minister reiterated that these funds are necessary for development of the province. PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar and elected representatives from Dir Lower also attended the ceremony.
Scholarship cheques distribution
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Sohail Afridi, distributed scholarship cheques worth Rs. 64 million among 347 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in various universities. Speaking at the scholarship distribution ceremony organized by the Higher Education Department at the Chief Minister’s House on Monday, the Chief Minister also announced an additional allocation of Rs. 300 million for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Foundation. Of this amount, Rs. 200 million will be designated for settled districts, while Rs. 100 million will be reserved for the merged districts.
In his address, the Chief Minister stated that the provincial government is committed to providing equitable and enhanced educational opportunities to students belonging to middle-income and underprivileged families. He emphasized that no talented student should be forced to discontinue their education due to financial constraints. “The students of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are capable and hardworking. They only need opportunities and adequate facilities. Our youth are the future of Pakistan; tomorrow, they will lead the province and the nation,” he remarked. He added that the provincial government, in line with the vision of our leader Imran Khan, is investing strategically in its youth, with a particular focus on quality education and improved healthcare services.
He announced that the provincial government is introducing market-relevant academic subjects to ensure that students are equipped to compete at national and international levels. “Our goal is to prepare graduates who can not only secure employment immediately after completing their education but can also become providers of employment,” he said. He also revealed that a formal internship programme is being launched to prevent skilled young people from remaining unemployed, adding that all government policies are aimed at public welfare. “We will ensure good governance and demonstrate meaningful results,” he affirmed.
During the briefing prior to the ceremony, officials informed the participants that a total of 347 scholarships are being awarded this year under the Chief Minister’s Education Endowment Fund and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Foundation. Over 15,000 applications were received for these scholarships. It was highlighted that an online portal has been introduced for applying to the programme, enabling an automated and transparent selection process. The participants were also informed that under the provincial government’s scholarship initiatives, students are currently pursuing free education at leading national institutions including Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute (GIK), NUST, IBA, and Quaid-e-Azam University.
The ceremony was attended by Provincial Minister Meena Khan Afridi, senior officials of the Higher Education Department, heads of various universities, and a large number of students.
