The Senior Minister, North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and the parliamentary leader of the Awami National Party in the provincial assembly, Bashir Ahmad Bilour on Saturday has inaugurated the latest fire-brigade and rescue equipment at Bagh-e-Naran Hayatabad, Peshawar.
The latest equipment costing Rs 15 million have been purchased on Bilour's directives following the recent fire incidents in Peshawar city that killed good number of people. These fire fighting and rescue vehicles are capable of extinguishing fire on residential or commercial buildings up to eight storey and rescuing people in buildings up to five-storey besides provide relief work at factories, highways and airports.
Some of the useful features of these vehicles include their ability to rotate in 360 degree and throw water or foam steams up to a distance of 250 feet. Bilour reaffirmed taking concrete steps for the development of Peshawar termed the induction of new fire fighting and rescue equipment as good omen for the people of Peshawar.
'I have directed the City Development and Municipal Department (CDMD) to establish its own premix plant at official level to reshape the roads and get rid of the excuses of the contractors', he said. Further, the Senior Minister maintained that the Works and Services Department has also been instructed to establish premix plant accordingly to improve the condition of the highways so that people could travel comfortably.
'Like other parts of the city, work on development and beautification of Hayatabad has also been started. The stream, 'Khwar' would be developed soon while a park and a zoo would be established here with a cost of Rs 3 million to present recreational facilities in the township. Bilour claimed that the government has successfully controlled the law and order situation in the province regardless of any foreign pressure.
Further, he said that the government was taking effective measures to bring peace in both settled and tribal area and establish cordial relations with neighbouring Afghanistan and trying to overcome the issues of price hike, unemployment, wheat and energy crises. 'The NWFP has asked the federal government to compensate the damages done by Afghan war and deterioration of its social and physical infrastructure due to the long stay of Afghan refugees.