Former federal minister Salim Saifullah Khan on Monday hailing the federal government for inaugurating the much-awaited Kurram Tangi Dam project said it would ensure socio-economic development of the southern districts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Expressing gratitude to the government especially Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, the former minister said federal government was taking keen interest to complete the mega project within scheduled time to resolve all energy crisis, drinking and agricultural relating problems of Southern districts of the province.
He told media here that for ease of planning, execution and availability of requisite funding, the project had been divided into stages and its phase-I, which also featured two power houses were scheduled to complete by April 2019.
He said Kaitu Weir Irrigation and Power Project which was designed to produce about 84MW electricity would also supplement existing Marwat cannels, irrigating about 2,78,000 acre of land in the district and would improve living standard of people.
He said the construction of Kurram Tangi dam would eradicate flood threats in respective areas and that would be a blessing for the people of those areas where flood came each year.
He said the multi-purpose project had been dream of the people of the area that was materialised following 40-year long struggle of his family despite hurdles put in the way by political opponents.
He was of the view that every year a lot of rainwater goes wasted although the country was faced with worst kind of load shedding and shortage of water for irrigation purposes, now that project, he added, would help a great deal to supplement the government's efforts for resolving such issues.
He also said people of the southern districts of the KP especially Lakki Marwat were facing poverty and unemployment despite the fact youth of the area was gifted with excellent talent, therefore, he said there was a need to create job opportunities for enabling them to earn livelihood in respectable manner besides contributing effectively to the country's socio-economic development.
He assured that he would continue work for welfare of the people of the area, adding more development packages and projects would be initiated in the district in order to bring it at par with other areas of the province in terms of socio-economic prosperity.