KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Friday said that people had voted PTI into power for changing the system as they were fed up with corruption, commission, loot & plunder and exploitative policies of the traditional rulers. However, he said actual change comes when we will make them accountable and awake own consciousness.
He was talking to a 60-member delegation comprising of the notables of Charsadda and Shabqadar, which called on him in the leadership of MPA Arif Ahmadzai here in CM Secretariat. The delegation apprised the chief minister about problems and demands of the areas.
The chief minister said that the process of change has been started however, in democratic governments, changes cannot come within a night and rather it takes time. He said that even their political opponents also know that a big change is in process in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that on finding the boat of their politics sinking they are making new allegations and conspiring, but they will get nothing else than failure.
He appealed the people to not pay bribe for their routine matters work in any provincial or federal department including police station, patwarkhana, and WAPDA and Sui gas and in case of any such demand; they should bring them into the notice of the higher authorities. He said that with bearing a little wait and hardship the cancer like corruption will become a story of the past which besides proving a step forward towards the alleviation of our other deprivations like backwardness and poverty.
Regarding the construction and repairing of roads and streets in the area the chief minister clarified that consultants have been hired in all departments and wait has come to an end as no work on development schemes will begin in accelerated pace and progress and development would be witnessed everywhere. In future, he said reporting about the dilapidated conditions of roads and streets will not be work of the general public rather it will be the duty of the authorities concerned. He said that all matters will be redressed before the arrival of any compliant.
On the demand for the release of funds for of the construction of embankment on the banks of rivers to protect precious agricultural land, he assured that kind of big projects are being included in the development program for the upcoming financial year. Because, he said last year the budget was approximately prepared before their coming into power and they found very less time for fixing development targets in proportion to the available resources. He said that next budget will be relief and welfare oriented and instead of burdening the people under taxes they would be provided maximum relief and big development targets will be fixed, which he said would include the construction of world standard protection walls on the embankments of all rivers from Charsadda to Nowshera. The project, he said would minimise the losses of properties and destruction of standing crops from floods.
On the demand of the upgrading Shabqadar from Sub-Division status to Tehsil and up-gradation of the local Tehsil headquarters hospital, the chief minister assured said that will not hesitate from it, but it could prove beneficial for the residents of the area. In this connection he issued necessary instructions to authorities present on the occasion.
Taking notice of the cutting of power supply to 25 villages merged in district Charsadda from Mohmand Agency, he sought reasons from A.C WAPDA, who said that the action has been taken due to non-payment of electricity bills and heavy arrears in this regard. On the proposal of the chief minister, the residents of the area agreed to deposit their electricity bills and arrears and then A.C WAPDA assured that on receiving written surety on payment of bills they will restore power supply to the villages even two or three days before the payment of the bills.
The chief minister said that Pakistan could be made a developed country only through adopting the culture of timely depositing of all government payments and utility bills. On complaint regarding shortage of teachers and class rooms in local schools, the chief minister assured that under educational and health emergencies all such problems are being resolved on emergency basis. He said that from now the presence of one teacher would be guaranteed for 40 students' class room. Similarly, he said under the new legislation in future teachers would not be transferred and they would have to teach students in the same school to give better results. He said that examination of grades 5th, 8th and 9th will also conducted under the supervision of educational boards to bring maximum improvement in the standard of education.
He directed the district administration for taking immediate action of the complaints regarding all departments and not only redressed them, but also established closed co-ordination with the people to ensure their practical participation in the development process. He assured sympathetic review of other problems highlighted by the delegation. Delegation while appreciating the steps of the PTI government for the abolition of corruption and establishment of the supremacy of transparency and merit said that only such governments can provide justice and relief to the people.