Peshawar: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ameer Haidar Khan Hoti laid foundation stone of Southern By-pass in Hayat Abad Peshawar which would be completed with US partnership in three years at the cost of 3 billion rupees.Deputy Secretary US Brian. A Nicholas and Senior Provincial Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour also addressed the gathering on the occasion. DG PDA Qazi Laeeq throw detailed light on main cruxs of the project. Other participants on the occasion were US Ambassador for Economic Assistance Robin Rafel, ANP Provincial President Afraseyab Khattak, Speaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Karamat Ullah Chagharmatti, provincial ministers, MPAs, provincial authorities, ANP Office bearers and large number of local notables.The chief minister said, “Southern By-pass will prove a milestone for profitable partnership between Pakistan and the US.
The project will not only bring economic prosperity for people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but will also enhance trade links with other countries of the region including Afghanistan.” He termed the project a valuable gift for Fata and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said, being a trade corridor, the highway will boost economic, trade and employment activities in the region. He thanked the US Government and President and Prime Minister of Pakistan for approval of the project and hoped their assistance in future development endeavors.Hoti said, “We are passing a critical stage of our history where we are facing challenge of militancy.” He paid tributes to people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for gallantly facing menace of insurgency. He said current flooding adversely affected infra structure of the province after terrorism adding though current flooding did hit the whole country but Khyber Pakhtunkhwa status is different in a sense that it incurred the most life and material devastation and also paid huge price in the struggle against terrorism, he maintained.
Meanwhile talking to media men, the chief minister said Southern By-pass comprises of modeling and rehabilitation of Ring Road including 4 kilometers additional construction of Express way and additional lane and service road will also be constructed on both sides of the Ring Road. He said, from Hayat Abad, Express Way will meet Frontier Road and heavy traffic will use this Express Way to Khyber Agency, Afghanistan and advance traveling adding heavy traffic will seize going across Hayat Abad.He said this project worth 3 billion will be completed in three years and the project also included broadening of bridges. He said, solar lights will be installed on express way for the first time as a pilot project. “Southern By-pass is a trade route and this will benefit people of Afghanistan along with people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.” He declared.
The chief minister said foreign donors will be consulted in connection with Northern By-pass. He said ring road project will only be beneficial incase circle of ring road has been completed. To a query regarding change in governor of the province, the chief minister replied he is not part of the process and had no clue in this connection. He said approval of Southern By-pass project on behalf of donors augment the donors have full confidence over it. He said work on reconstruction of road from Kanju to Madain with assistance from NAS will commence soon.The chief minister said two projects of hydro power generation have started functioning in Machi (Mardan) and Kohestan while Wapda has handed over feasibility report of three projects to the provincial government and work will also started soon on it. The chief minister said donors and foreign investors have been asked for investment on partnership basis for utilizing capacity of hydro power.Provincial President Afraseyab Khattak, Senior Provincial Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour and Provincial Information Minister Mian Iftekhar Hussain also offered gifts to the foreign guests – Onlinenews
