CM directs depts to carry out the process of procurement

F.P. Report

Peshawar: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has directed all departments to carry out the process of procurement for their respective departments.

The concerned department was the competent forum to undertake all procurements that he directed to be formally notified. He agreed in principle to the proposal, that part of the total Road Transport Board (RTB) fund amounting Rs. 230 million should be used for the reconstruction and renovation of bus addas and bus terminals and the rest can be utilized for its commercial activities through finance department.

This he said while presiding over a meeting regarding Road Transport Board at Chief Minister House Peshawar. District Nazim Peshawar Arbab Asim, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mohammad Israr Khan, Secretary Finance Shakeel Qadir, Secretary Transport Kamran Khan, Secretary Law and others attended the meeting. The meeting was informed about the situation of different Bus Addas and Transport in the Province.

The Chief Minister directed to improve the current condition of all Bus Addas and put the system of transportation in the Province on modern lines. He said that the Provincial Government will provide all facilities for efficient transportation in the Province.  The Provincial Government will use the RTB fund for the reconstruction and renovation of different Bus Terminals in the Province so as to facilitate the passengers. The meeting was briefed about all the contracts with Daewoo Adda Peshawar for which the CM directed that RTB and the Law Department should set together and do home work.

Mahmood Khan directed that Road Transport Board should work out the mechanism as to how could effectively the RTB fund be utilized for the reconstruction of bus terminals in the province. He also directed for a proposal to use RTB fund. The meeting was also informed about the plan for Greater Circular Peshawar as the Transport Department had already signed MoUs with Chinese Company CRCC and sent these MoUs to Provincial Government for approval. The Greater Circular Peshawar includes District Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan, Nowshera in first phase and Swabi and District Malakand will be completed in the Phase-II. The Chief Minister said that this is an important project for the integration of the province through road communication. The Road Transport Board fund is public fund and will be used for the public welfare, he added.

Furthermore Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has said his government has already planned the infrastructure development in the seven newly merged districts of erstwhile FATA, for, the targets have already been set. The government would go all out for the provision of all facilities to remove the sense of deprivation of the people of the newly merged districts adding that these areas have diversified potential for investment in different sectors and called upon the donors for the scientific exploitation of these resources.

Talking to the Head of DFID Ms Joanna Reid at his office Chief Minister Secretariat Peshawar, the Chief Minister exchanged views on matters of mutual interest. Minister for Finance Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Special Assistant to CM Ziaullah Bangash, Additional Chief Secretary Shehzad Bangash, Principal Secretary to CM Muhammad Israr, Head of SSU Sahibzada Saeed and others were also present at the occasion. The meeting discussed at length the overall developmental strategy for the newly merged districts and also exchanged views on law & order situation in the changed environment.

Mahmood Khan said that after the merger and improved law & order situation, the overall situation had become suitable for investment that’s why the foreign investors were flooding these areas. He said that the people of erstwhile FATA offered tremendous sacrifices and now his “government stands committed to the overall prosperity and development of these areas”. He said that he was personally holding meetings for the development and reform agenda being extended to newly merged districts.

Chief Minister said that an advisory committee comprising elected members has been formed for redressal and coordination with all segments of the newly merged districts in order to involve the people in the overall developmental process. He informed the foreign dignitaries about the plan for the erstwhile FATA and Indicated the area for investment both in infrastructure and other sectors. However the entire task needed to be done collectively. Matters pertaining to the implementation on national action plan also came up for discussion.

Mahmood Khan said that the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was in the advance stage of implementation on the national action plan. It encouraged the pro peace elements and discouraged extremism including rectification in every spares.

Ms Joanna Reid appreciated the efforts for the restoration of law & order situation   and took keen interest in the overall development and prosperity of the newly merged districts adding that the reforms and the provincial government priority were appreciable and her team could cooperate with the government in the resolution of problems.