Opposition calls Billion Tree project a failure for political gains: Shaukat

Wadood Jan

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information Shaukat Yousafzai said on Tuesday that Billion Tree Tsunami project was successful but rival political parties were calling it a failure for their political gains.

He was speaking at a function in connection with installation of solar energy system in CM House and Civil Secretariat, held here at Chief Minister’s House, and said that cheap electricity was being produced from Hydro Power in KP.

Advisor to CM on Power and Energy Himayatullah Khan, Deputy Speaker Provincial Assembly Mahmood Jan, Advisor to CM on Education Ziaullah Bangash, additional chief secretary, law secretary and other officials also attended the function.

Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai said that former rulers signed IPP bonds for their commission and corruption.

“On the rates of IPP electricity subsidy was given from the profit of hydro power,” he stated and added that former rulers did not plan for the future energy crisis.

“As much as 32000 Mega Watt electricity could be produced in the province,” he said adding that incompetent rulers made a dispute out of dams construction matter for their political gains.

Shuakat maintained that this year 4440 mosques from all over the province would be connected to solar energy.

“As much as 8000 schools and 187 Basic Health Units (BHUs) would also be facilitated with solar energy power,” he said and added that provincial government in 2015 had connected 2750 families with solar energy in Chitral.

He also said that a solar energy project was being underway in central and southern district which would connect 100 villages to the system.