DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Local Government, Elections and Rural Development Meena Khan Afridi has appreciated the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project (KPCIP) team for completing three major projects within two months.
The projects include Hayatabad Park, inaugurated on July 7, the Women Business Development Centre in Kohat, opened on Aug 7, and Abbottabad Park, inaugurated on Aug 29.
The projects have been implemented by the Local Government, Elections and Rural Development Department with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank.
The minister said the 702-kanal Abbottabad Park, covering around 355,000 square metres, had been completed three months ahead of its scheduled deadline.
The park includes walking tracks, family seating areas, 30 gazebos, a children’s play area, a cricket ground, mosque, cafeteria and restaurant, three parking areas and recreational facilities, including a 365-metre zip line and a wall-climbing facility.
Mr Afridi also appreciated the KPCIP team for preserving the park’s natural environment during construction. He said no trees had been felled and that 13,000 trees were planned to be planted, of which 7,000 had already been planted.
He added that an estimated 50,000 pine trees had been preserved within the park.
The minister said timely completion of the projects reflected the government’s commitment to providing tangible benefits to citizens. He added that the KPCIP team was working to complete ongoing water supply and sanitation projects before the project deadline.
The provincial minister said the government was committed to developing cities with better public spaces and improved quality of life for residents.
KPCIP Project Director Hameed Ullah Shah said completion of the three projects reflected the team’s efforts to deliver infrastructure within stipulated timelines.
He said the projects had faced several challenges, including litigation, complaints and delays by contractors. According to him, work that could have taken more than a year was completed within two to three months through concerted efforts by the project team.
Mr Shah said KPCIP was also focusing on projects aimed at promoting greener cities, recreation, tourism and economic opportunities for communities.
The three projects cater to different urban needs. Hayatabad Park provides recreational and green space for residents, while Abbottabad Park offers additional recreational facilities in a major tourist destination.
The Women Business Development Centre in Kohat is intended to provide women with facilities for entrepreneurship, skills development and business opportunities.
