Afridi says Peshawar Revitalisation Plan schemes to be completed ahead of schedule
DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Sunday laid the foundation stones of two projects worth Rs9.3 billion under the Rs200 billion Peshawar Revitalisation Plan, vowing that development work would be completed ahead of schedule.
The projects include the upgradation and rehabilitation of 19 major roads across the city and the construction of the Pishtakhara Chowk Underpass.
Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony, the chief minister said the government’s focus was on improving public welfare and service delivery for citizens.
“In line with Imran Khan’s vision, we are pursuing the struggle for real freedom while, at the same time, delivering public service to the highest possible standard,” he said.
Officials said the key roads and routes upgradation project has been estimated at Rs7.2bn under Phase-I.
They said the phase-I covers nine roads at a cost of Rs4.1bn and includes: Bacha Khan Chowk–Pajagi Ring Road, Dalazak Road, Bacha Khan Chowk–Northern Bypass Road, Ashraf Road–Circular Road, Hashtnagri Road, Faqirabad Road, Khyber Bazaar–Kohat Road (Ramdas), Cinema Road, LRH Road, Ramdas Chowk–GT Road, and Lahori Chowk–Anam Sanam Chowk Road.
Phase-I(B), worth Rs3.1bn, covers seven roads and routes including Kohat Road–Bara Bridge, University Road–Canal Road, Bara Road–Safiyoon Chowk Road, Swati Phatak Road–Ring Road, and Ring Road Achini–University Road (Spin Jamaat). The phase also includes improvement of entry points to Hayatabad, its major roads and the boundary wall.
The Pishtakhara Chowk Underpass will be built at an estimated cost of Rs2.1bn and is scheduled for completion within three months, officials added.
Responding to public demand, Mr Afridi announced that the underpass would be named after Shaheed Fayyaz Khalil. “Timely completion of development schemes is a key government priority and projects aimed at public welfare will not be allowed to face unnecessary delays,” he said.
The chief minister said provincial revenue collection had increased from Rs93bn to Rs150bn in the last financial year, and the target for the current year was Rs200bn “without imposing new taxes.”
He criticised the federal government, saying “the fake federal government has presented five budgets, yet the country’s economic and social conditions continue to deteriorate.” He alleged the country was “being run on borrowed money” and that inflation was hurting the poor and middle classes.
