Falak Sher
MARDAN
The masses of Mardan strongly condemned the decision of provincial government of shifting Khyber institute of neuro sciences and clinical reach (KINAR) projected from Mardan to Peshawar, it may be noted that the 15 years ago Awami National Party (ANP) during it government has announced a project named KINAR in Mardan district.
After the establishment of this center all types of specialties of neurosurgery and neurology will be available at this center. The ANP government has allocated 20 kanal lands near Abdul Wali Khan university for this project.
The ANP government also allocated funds for this project. This project was considered an important project for Mardan and its surrounding districts. However when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) came into power in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa after the 2013 election they stopped funds for all the projects started by the ANP government. Now the newly elected government of PTI has decided to shift this project to Peshawar.
Mayor Himayatullah Mayar said that the Mardan district was being deprived of several key projects launched by a previous provincial government led by the Awami National Party (ANP). He said the ANP-led government had established the first Khyber Institute of Neuro Research (KINR), supported not only by funds allocated for Mardan and surrounding districts but also designed as a significant project for the entire Pakistan. However, due to the recent decision of the provincial government, Mardan and surrounding areas are being deprived of the project.
Mayor stated that in the past, a 5,000-kanal piece of land was purchased for various projects, including 2,000 kanals for Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, 2,000 kanals for Agriculture and Engineering University, and 1,000 kanals for Bacha Khan Medical College.
He added that, after approval in a cabinet meeting, funds were being allocated. “Unfortunately, the current government is now returning the lands of the projects to owners as per a decision made by the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. The government executed this decision due to the non-availability of funds,” he added. He said that despite the survey and project planning for a new advanced cancer hospital in Mardan, the recent decisions of the provincial government were depriving Mardan of a much-needed advanced cancer hospital.
The mayor said that previous projects like the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ), Pakistan’s third-largest Benazir Bhutto Children Hospital, and other significant initiatives were also being neglected. The mayor criticized the provincial government for allocating funds every year for the loss-making Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project but not allocating Rs3.5 billion for the owners of the land allocated for different projects to provide a bright future to the youth of Mardan and surrounding districts.
He appealed to all political leaders, student unions, lawyers’ associations, traders’ unions, doctor associations, and the people of Mardan to come together and raise their voices for the bright future and rights of Mardan. Mayor pledged to fight collectively on all forums for the rights of Mardan and the bright future of the youth.
