The government contractors from Frontier Region Peshawar have dismayed over non-payment of dues for execution of several small-scale development schemes, under the Fata Secretariat Programme, warned that if the disbursement was not made within a week, would compel to launch a protest campaign against it.
Speaking at a press conference at press club on Wednesday, the Contractors Association Frontier Region Peshawar, Rehman Afridi said that the Programme was funded by United States Development Programme, initiated in 2010, under which a number of development projects were executed in the FR Peshawar region. Under the Programme, he informed that a three small scale development schemes had initiated in Frontier Region Peshawar, including a road construction and streets pavement schemes, which would be completed at a cost Rs 8.9 million. About 50 per cent construction work has been completed on these development projects, he maintained.
Similarly, he further explained that a road was also constructing at cost of Rs 4.7 million under this Programme in the FR region, Peshawar. As per agreement, he said that disbursement could be made after completion of 25 per cent work on these projects. He, however, lamented that a single penny was yet to be released to them, despite completion of 50 per cent work on the schemes.
Flanked by the association Information Secretary, Lesaan Afridi, Nasir Jamal Afridi, Gul Mohiuddin Afridi, along with contractors, Afridi that the contractors were faced huge financial losses due to doubling development cost of these projects, amid delaying release of dues to them. While, he added the construction work was also stopped due to non-payment of first instalment. The payment was pending for last one year, due to indifferent attitude of the officials concern of the FSP, he informed.
The association president further blamed that the amount claimed by contractors had been deducted without any specified reason. He added that construction work was supervised by the relevant officials, despite that the deduction was totally unjust with the contractors. "We had also raised the payment issue with the political administration, but not to avail", he added. He said that political administration had declined to interfere in this matter. Similarly, he said they had also used legal option, but court also desisted to mitigate their suffering, by citing that the issue was out from its domain. The contractors demanded of the Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Engr Shaukatullah Khan, Assistant Political Agent, Director General Project Fata, Additional Chief Secretary to issue directives for immediately disbursement of the amount, withhold from last one year.