Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak directed for the issuance of Letter of Intent (LoI) for the three hydro projects in Chitral and one hydro power project in Naraan by September 20. He further directed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with FWO for the transmission line and provision of security and other required help to the company for the cement plant Haripur to undertake the land survey.
He was presiding over a meeting to review progress on projects being launched through FWO in the province at Chief Minister Secretariat Peshawar. Advisor to Chief Minister on Communication & Works Akbar Ayub, DG FWO, administrative secretaries and other relevant officers also attended the meeting. The chief minister asked the concerned quarters to ensure the progress on the 81-Kilometer long Swat Motorway as per the timeline determined between the provincial government and FWO. He disclosed that he is to inaugurate the oil refinery Karak soon and directed to fulfill all the code formalities especially the land acquisition etc.
The meeting focused on the status of the projects at the occasion. The meeting was informed that FWO would undertake four hydel power projects in Chitral and Naraan for which Letter of Intent would be required from the energy department to initiate the process of implementation on these projects. On the directive of the Chief Minister, the Secretary Energy assured to issue letter of intent by September 20.
The Chief Minister said that it was prerequisite to lay down transmission line for the three hydro power projects in Chitral by FWO. However, he said he would take the transmission line of the projects to the CPEC but still he asked the FWO to lay down transmission line for these projects. FWO agreed to it and would sign an agreement with the energy department.
Regarding the Swat Motorway, the meeting was informed about bad weather delaying the construction work. However, FWO assured to get the target soon and in September, they would plan the carpeting of 10 KM long road adding that drilling work at one side of the tunnel was in full swing but from other side it would be started in October. 350 meter northern box cutting on the tunnel completed and in the northern and southern portals work on 170 meter and 140 meter have been completed.
The Chief Minister directed for accelerated work on the tunnel and timely payments to their contractors. The Chief Minister also directed to convene a meeting of the relevant quarters for the shifting of utilities on the Swat Motorway. He also directed to give protection to the residents of village Shah Kot. The FWO, KP Highway Authority and the relevant Deputy Commissioners should contact the locals and find a solution in this regard.
Pervez Khattak also asked details about the work in the backdrop of Bus Rapid Transit Peshawar that included Service Road, shifting of utilities and the widening of road etc. He directed the Deputy Commissioner to visit the service road and monitor the shifting of utilities adding that all work should be of standard. The Chief Minister was assured to complete the construction work, the widening of service road and relocation of utilities etc. by September 30.
The Chief Minister took strong exception to the delay of the construction work on Nowshera Medical College and directed to be on target, meeting the timelines as determined between the government and FWO otherwise penalty and claims under the law would be enforced. However, he assured extension if supported by cogent reasons.
Pervez Khattak also directed for the land identification for the cement plant in Haripur asking the Deputy Commissioner and other relevant staff to visit the site on September 5th. He directed to complete the process of land acquisition for the oil refinery Karak adding that he would soon inaugurate the project therefore all necessary steps should be taken by the concerned quarters. The Chief Minister also directed to accelerate the process of land acquisition for Peshawar model town and CPEC city project Nowshera. FWO assured to arrange payment, the movement, land acquisition process is finalized.