PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Pervez Khattak has said that development of backward districts and providing them with all the basic civic facilities on the pattern of big cities on a fast track basis is the priority of provincial government.
Addressing the launching ceremony of the extension phase of community-driven local development (CDLD) programme at a local hotel in Peshawar, the chief minister said that the programme had been launched in six most backward districts of Malakand division in collaboration with European Union (EU) in 2014. He added that the programme, which aimed to improve road infrastructure and municipal services in all urban and rural areas of these districts, yielded positive results.
Therefore, he said that the program was being extended to six more districts of the province including Kohistan, Battagram, Torghar, Buner, Haripur and Nowshera, to develop the infrastructure and ameliorate the lives of common people there.
The ceremony was also addressed by EU Ambassador Jean-Francois Cautain, CDLD team leader Brian Fawcett, Planning and Development Secretary Zahir Shah Khan and others, who highlighted the people friendly and transparent policies and reforms of the provincial government.
The event, besides Minister for Local Government Inayatullah, Local Government Secretary Syed Jamaluddin Shah, district chairmen and senior officers of the concerned 12 districts, was largely attended by EU delegates, LG representatives and people from all walks of life.
EU provided 64 million Euros against the provincial government funding of Rs4.7 billion for the first phase and has committed additional funds of 34.4 million Euros while the provincial government has committed Rs5.981 billion for the second phase. So far, 1,457 developmental projects have been completed and over 3.7 million people have benefitted in the first phase, while the second phase will also greatly help in gearing up the pace of development in the newly selected six districts of the province.
CM Khattak said that the programme would cover almost half of the backward areas of the province. For that, he congratulated the local government department, district government officials, and the district governments for playing their role effectively. He also appreciated the contribution of Human Dynamics, as a key implementing partner of the KP government.
Later the chief minister gave away shields of commendation to the EU team members, district chairmen, DCs and other officers of districts administration for outstanding performance in making CDLD programme a success story.