- Ignacio Artaza-led UNDP delegation calls on CM Dost in Peshawar
PESHAWAR: Caretaker Chief Minister Dost Muhammad Khan spoke out his mind about the overall recovery plan for the infrastructure development, mainstreaming of tribal region, extension of social services to the newly-merged districts in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, besides creating job opportunities for the young people, planning economic zone and industrialisation, small dams and the agriculture development.
He was speaking with the three-member UNDP delegation headed by its Country Director Ignacio Artaza here at the CM Secretariat. The meeting focused on the mainstreaming of tribal region. The UNDP country director took keen interest in the overall recovery plan shaped up by the caretaker government.
The UN agency has already prepared a PC-I and is ready to put it to the implementation phase for the provision of resources and technical support to the provincial government for the improved services in the newly-merged districts, Ignacio Artaza assured. Chief Minister Dost said that his caretaker set up was going all out for the infrastructure development in the districts.
He said that mainstreaming the tribal region was very much necessary for the province as the erstwhile tribal areas now merged to Pakhtunkhwa has direct bearing on other areas of the province. Dost Muhammad Khan said that he has already set up a task force to negotiate with the federal government and to remove the legal anomalies in order to have a smooth transition for the merger.
He said that his caretaker set up has prepared a blueprint, sketching the short, mid and long-term measures as part of the overall recovery and rehabilitation plan for the tribal areas. A meeting with the federal government was being held for the reforms and implementation in the newly-merged districts. “We have already made up our mind and thanked the UNDP for financial and technical support,” he said.
Chief Minister Dost said that his caretaker set up was going all out with speed for its mandatory responsibilities for the peaceful, secure and free elections in the province. He had reviewed the polling and security arrangements of the Hazara Division and soon he would visit Malakand and southern districts to sensitize the district administration and the police for their constitutional responsibilities.
