KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak approved developmental and beautification project for Peshawar city costing Rs 184 million.
Under this project all vehicular traffic would be banned to enter into the walled city whereas the interior roads and bazaars would be converted into tough tile-footpaths. The power supply, telephone and fiber optic cables as well as gas, water supply pipelines and sewerage lines would go underground by laying two separate water proof blocks to save buildings and installations from seepage hazards.
The old city ancient places and historical buildings would be revived in almost original shape through maintenance and beautification works. The project completion task is assigned to Archeology Department whereas 12 concerned line departments would also coordinate with it in the construction works. Two high powered implementation committees under District Nazim Arbab Muhammad Asim Khan and Additional Chief Secretary Muhammad Azam Khan have been constituted to ensure its early and quality completion.
The unique project would start from Tehsil Gor Gathri to Chowk Yadgar in the first phase that would be completed in three months record period after initiating digging works. The meeting besides MPA and Focal Person Peshawar Mega Projects Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, administrative secretaries of LG&RD, P&D, Finance, high ups of district government, WSSP, MSP and town municipal administrations was also attended by certain nazims and elite of the city.
Shaukat Yousafzai while thanking the chief minister on launching the project, hoped that Archeology Department would ensure speedy and quality completion of the project that would greatly contribute in checking the ugly incidents due to PESCO spaghetti-turned power supply cables, irregular water supply and gas pipelines that would give the sigh of relief.
Archeology Director Dr Abdul Samad told that design work of the project has already been started since 5th of this month that would be completed by September whereas the digging and construction work would be started forthwith and completed month wise in different phases.
The chief minister asked to ensure completion of the project in accelerated speed with consultation and coordination with focal person Shuakat Yousafzai and other public representatives. He also directed the MSP and WSSP to privatize the solid waste, sewerage and hygiene schemes to ensure healthy environment in the city. He further directed the MSP administration to move a summary through local government department for the required bridge financing of Rs 400-500 million for resolving decade-long sewerages issues at various important places of the city including Gulbahar.
He also asked for negotiating with USAID authorities for completing release of the committed Rs.5.6 billion. He underlined the need for timely payment of dues to the contractors on work completion basis.
Pervez Khattak directed the MSP and WSSP authorities to complete the land acquisition process of dumping grounds of 2.6 acre plot at Warsak Road, waste treatment plant area of old Shamshato refugee camp at Urmar Road and waste disposal ground at Yasin Abad Mohammad Zai area so that hurdles could be removed early completion of the city drainage and sewerage schemes.
He further asked for accelerating pace on walled city project for documentation of the ancient city wall and downtown historical building and places as well as Gor Gathri Artisan village scheme to promote old skills of the city. Under the scheme 25 skilled experts have been posted in the Artisan village in various ancient skills of stone work, Khadi, Misery, wax painting, Qarkuli caps, embroidery and metal works who were working on transferring their skills to the pupils and the fine art students of various universities.