Peshawar
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Caretaker Minister for Communication & Works and Irrigation Ahmad Jan Khan, recently led a meeting in Peshawar to discuss significant infrastructure projects within the Communication & Works Department. During the meeting, progress on the province’s flagship mega projects and their completion timelines were assessed.
The gathering included Chief Engineer C&W North Engineer Shakir Habib, Additional Secretaries Riaz Khan and Miss Fariha Malahat, Project Directors for various development initiatives, representatives from project consultants, and other officials.
The caretaker minister received detailed briefings on major development projects related to communication, works, rural development link roads, covering their key features, funding status, ongoing progress, and expected completion schedules.
One highlight of the meeting was a discussion of a substantial project designed to improve access to tourism destinations in the province. This initiative, managed by the C&W department, involves connecting primary tourism zones with new roads, backed by a budget of $70 million in foreign funds and 3 billion ADP.
Additionally, a mega project focused on the conservation and development of historical mosques and archaeological sites was introduced, with developmental work already completed in some locations. The meeting also covered the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Accessibility Project, supported by the World Bank, aimed at linking rural and urban areas through road infrastructure. Under this initiative, 463 kilometres of rural roads, 305 kilometres of flood-affected roads, and 16 flood-affected bridges are under construction.
Furthermore, various complexes are being constructed in Merged Districts and several Settled districts under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Investment Support Program. The C&W department has also completed 124 schemes, including the rehabilitation of 25 schools, as part of projects funded by PaRRSA and US Aid.
During the discussion, the caretaker minister stressed that the caretaker government’s primary responsibility is to ensure that departments operate in accordance with established rules and regulations. He expressed his commitment to removing obstacles hindering the completion of these mega projects, even if they involve collaboration with other departments. He pledged to enhance the department’s efficiency and progress toward its development targets.
