The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will provide Rs108.5524 million to army as additional fund to continue work on various projects of rehabilitation in Malakand division. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti approved the amount, to be provided to army, here on Tuesday, said a handout. The army is carrying out various rehabilitation and reconstruction projects in Malakand division in collaboration with Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). The finance department, in light of chief minister’s directives, will provide the fund through PDMA to army. The government has also approved provision of Rs400,000 as one time grant-in-aid during the current financial year 2010-11 for rehabilitation of flood-hit Nowshera Press Club. The government approved the grant on the demand of the press club.
Mr Hoti has also approved provision of Rs6.345 million for acquisition of two kanals and seven marals land adjacent to the newly constructed Darul Quza (High Court Bench) in Mingora Swat keeping in view its security. The chief minister directed departments concerned for acquisition of the land and provision of funds in this connection. Meanwhile, the chief minister has said that stability and peace in Pakistan cannot be restored until betterment of circumstances in Afghanistan. He was talking to journalists after inauguration of Shaheed Malik Saad Memorial Sports Trust here at the Central Police Office on Tuesday. “Successes and betterment in conditions show that terrorism is gradually declining,” he said. He said that the credit went to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who paid a heavy price for it and were still paying. He also appreciated the whole nation, political forces, army and security agencies for fighting against terrorism. The chief minister paid tribute to security personnel and the people, who played a role against terrorism. “The insurgency problem is not limited only to Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or Fata, but we are facing this menace due to presence of such elements in the whole region,” he added.
Mr Hoti said that countries in the region should collectively work out a sustainable solution to the problem. “Because we have common issues, problems and difficulties,” he said and termed environment of mutual trust essential for settling of those issues. He termed rejected the notion that federal government was discouraging donors. “Situations regarding food and non-food items in flood affected areas are normal and communication system in all flood-hit areas, except two valleys of district Kohistan, have been restored,” he said. The chief minister said that process of reconstruction would commence soon while reconstruction of bridges in some areas had already been started. He said that resources would be required for rehabilitation of flood-hit people and reconstruction of devastated areas. The donors and international community must come forward and play their role, he added. Mr Hoti lauded the role of media in rehabilitation of flood survivors and appealed to journalists to guide government in next phases of rehabilitation. He also appealed to the political parties to point out deficiency of government through constructive criticism. “It is a collective struggle and cannot be better accomplished without guidance of media and political parties,” he said. – Dawn
