F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan Wednesday directed Energy and Power Department that timely completion of hospitals’ solarization in merged districts be ensured in all respects.
He was chairing a review meeting of the overall performance of Energy and Power Department wherein he was briefed on the performance of the department with special focus on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Oil & Gas Company Limited (KPOGCL) and Pakhtunkhwa Energy & Power Development Organization (PEADO).
At the meeting, Mahmood Khan was briefed that 290 MHPSs have been completed so far adding that 66 more to be completed by June this Year.
He was told that the completed power stations have been handed over to the local communities to ensure the provision of uninterrupted power to the local population at affordable rates saying in the second phase of the initiative, sites have been identified for the construction of 672 similar power stations and work on the same will be started in the next financial year.
Provincial minister for Finance, Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Advisor to Chief Minister on Energy & Power, Himayatullah Khan, Head of Strategic Support Unit, Sahibzada Saeed, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Secretary Energy & Power and other relevant high ups attended the meeting.
The meeting was also briefed about the progress so far made on the under completion major power projects including Drar Khuar, Machai, Renola, Jabori, Matiltan, Koto and Lawi.
The Chief Minister while stressing the need of timely completion of all power projects, directed to convene a meeting of the divisional and district administrations of the areas where progress on the completion of power projects is slow so that all hindrances hampering the timely completion of these important projects could be removed once for all.
Mahmood Khan also directed the high ups of Energy & Power Development to identify such issues of power projects in the province which are related to federal government so that the matter could be taken up with Prime Minister for early resolution.
The Chief Minister expressed his dissatisfaction on the slow pace of on the solarization of District and Tehsil Headquarters hospital and mosques in the newly merged districts, and directed the quarter concern to go for alternative means to complete the solarization projects well in time.
He warned that unnecessary delay in the completion of these solarization projects would not be tolerated and stern actions would be taken against the responsible ones.
The Chief Minister also directed the high ups of Energy & Power Department to introduce drastic reforms in the administrative structure of both KPOGCL and PEDO and to fire the staff with unsatisfactory performance.
Swat Expressway to be opened for general traffic by June this year
A high level meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House Islamabad to review progress made so far on various ongoing developmental projects in communication sector of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Besides, Federal Minister for Communication Muraad Saeed, Federal Secretary for Communication, Chairman National Highway Authority, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Secretary C&W Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Commissioner Malakand and other Federal and Provincial high ups attended the meeting.
The meeting was informed that completion of Swat Expressway Phase-I is in final stage which will formally be opened for general traffic in June this year.
The Chief Minister stated that the completion of Swat Expressway would be prove a milestone for the speedy development of Malakand Division and added that the project will also help boost tourism in the region.
The Chief Minister directed the concerned authorities to complete the 1st phase of Swat Expressway without compromising on the quality of civil work.
The meeting was also briefed about the progress made so far on the repair and rehabilitation of other roads infrastructure throughout the province including Kalam and Naran to facilitate easy access of local and foreign tourist destination of the province.
The Chief Minister directed the concerned authorities to take all necessary steps to ensure that these roads are completely repaired before the start of the upcoming season.
