PESHAWAR
Chief Minister Mehmood Khan has said that the incumbent provincial government has initiated a number of projects for the development of backward districts, saying unprecedented funds have been allocated in the ongoing financial year to bring positive change in lives of people living in the backward areas of the province.
“The overall aim of developmental projects is to eliminate deprivations of non-developed districts and make them stand in the ranks of the developed districts,” he added.
In a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, the Chief Minister said that developing the backward districts of the province on a sustainable basis and creating employment opportunities for the people by utilizing the potential in these districts is an important part of the government’s manifesto.
He said that practical steps are being taken under a comprehensive strategy to implement it.
The Chief Minister said that the provincial government is establishing new districts and new tehsils in different districts to ensure delivery of services to the people and to run administrative affairs in a better manner.
“Shangla district is also considered as one of the backward districts of the province, but for the development of this district, work is going on development projects in various sectors, the completion of which will bring about a clear change in the lives of the local people,” he added.
According to the details, Shangla Development Authority is being established to promote tourism in Shangla and eliminate the backwardness of the district.
Apart from this, the Shangla campus of the University of Swat is being accorded the status of
Shangla University to provide higher education facilities to the people of Shangla and its surrounding areas at the local level through which people can pursue higher education in various fields.
It should be noted that in the current provincial annual development program, several development projects have been included for Shangla district in various sectors, the estimated cost of which is around five billion rupees.
These projects include upgradation of tehsil headquarters hospital Bisham to category C, upgradation of Swat University Shangla Campus in Shangla University, establishment of Rescue 1122 service, improvement and widening of Ranyal to Chichlo road, Murtong to Didal, Shikolai to Anavar and Awari. Rehabilitation of Kundav roads, construction of bridge over river Indus at Kibalgram, various projects under District Development Plan are included.
