KPK Updates

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

[h=1]Waiting for a (re)lapse: ‘Government needs to expedite use of development funds’

PESHAWAR: The Centre for Governance and Public Accountability (CGPA) has urged the government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to expedite the use of the development budget allocated under the Annual Development Programme (ADP). This was stated in a press release issued by the organisation on Monday.
It stated the K-P government could only utilise 7.8% of the total allocation—Rs137.7 billion—by November 24. According to the CGPA, if this trend continues, the government will not be able to make use of the programme, causing a lapse in development allocation.
The statement added elementary and secondary education was allocated the highest amount of Rs20.1 billion which is 14.67% of the total development budget. However, only Rs612 million was used till November 24; only 3% of the allocated amount for the sector for the 2014-15 fiscal year.
This, according to the CGPA, reflects slow progress on part of the government in one of the most important sectors.
The allocated budget in other areas such as infrastructure and social development has also not been utilised to its fullest, read the handout.
In the statement, CGPA Programme Manager Malik Masood said the K-P government needs to have an efficient and accountable mechanism for improving ADP spending. This, he highlighted, was important as the government needs to start planning ahead for development projects for 2015-16 to avoid lapse of funds.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], 2014.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/800314/...t-needs-to-expedite-use-of-development-funds/
[/h]

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

[h=1]Beans of contention: PDA ordered to submit master plan of University Town

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Monday directed the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) and town administration to submit their master plan under which they constructed University Town and converted some buildings of the residential area for commercial use.

The order was issued by the division bench of Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Lal Jan Khattak during the hearing of a petition filed by Dr Fazl Muqeem Khelji and others against the construction of Deewan-e-Khas and a coffee shop in the ladies club.
The court was informed that University Town was a residential area where a club was constructed for women. It included tennis and squash courts, a walking track and green belt.
A part of the club was then leased and a coffee shop and restaurant were constructed, which the petitioner argued was illegal.
The court was further informed by the petitioner’s counsel Tariq Afridi that the PHC had already imposed a ban on the commercial activities, yet they continued. He added such activities should be banned in the upmarket township.
The bench ordered the PDA and town administration to submit their master plan and rules of construction at the next date of hearing on December 4.
Some of the petitioners were aggrieved over the leasing out of 14 kanals of land of the ladies club to two people for 33 years. They were concerned that the coffee shop and restaurant were constructed illegally.
The high court had passed judgments in 2009 and 2011 which clearly prohibited the allotment of plots for commercial buildings in University Town.
Remand extended
In a separate case, an accountability court extended the physical custody of two suspects arrested by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a Hajj scam.
NAB arrested Muhammad Usman and Fahad Usman, owners of Karwan-e-Hujaj Private Limited Hajj Tour Operator. They were allegedly involved in scamming more than 100 pilgrims of millions of rupees.
A statement issued by NAB on the day of the arrests on November 18 said the accused collected approximately Rs430,000 per pilgrim and offered them a private Hajj package. However, when the clients reached the office of the tour operator at Deans Trade Centre to collect their passports, the accused had disappeared.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], 2014.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/800306/...red-to-submit-master-plan-of-university-town/[/h]

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

Feasibility ready for rapid bus service in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has finalised feasibility for launching rapid bus service in the provincial metropolis and started contacts with investors in this regard.
However, the provincial government is waiting for the final approval of different federal departments to initiate work on the project.
Mohsin Aziz, the vice chairman of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment and Trade (KP BoIT), told a press conference here on Monday that sole purpose of the rapid bus service project was to provide better transport facility to the people of Peshawar.
However, he said that some vested interest elements wanted to make the project a victim of politics. Those elements wanted to deprive people of such mega projects, he said.
Flanked by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry former president Ghulam Sarwar Khan Mohmand, former chief of Pesco Mohammad Yunas Khan Marwat and Subhan Ejaz, Mr Aziz said that the management of BoIT and provincial chief secretary held three to four meetings with officials of Pakistan Railways, who studied the plan and didn’t raise any objection.

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Board of investment vice chief claims ministries of railways and defence have raised no objection about the project

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He said that the feasibility of the project was prepared in such a technical manner that no one had so far objected to it. He expressed astonishment over some media reports according to which the ministries of railways and defence had raised objections about the project. Such baseless news items, he said, could only create confusion about the mega public welfare project.
The BoIT vice chairman said that neither the ministry of railways nor the ministry of defence had raised any objection about the project. The impression was created by some vested interest elements, especially encroachment mafia, he added. “Besides, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has not only appreciated the project but also supported it and extended full cooperation in this regard,” Mr Aziz said.
He said that the route of the bus was 25-kilometre long, from Chamkani to Hayatabad Industrial Estate. The bus would reach from the starting point to its final destination only in 60 minutes with no halt for VIP movement except for ambulances, he added. He said that only issue was the three kilometres distance from Chamkani to City Railway Station for which land was sanctioned.
Mr Aziz said that the rapid bus service would not create any hurdle in the movement of trains. Presently only three trains were using the track daily and even if the number of trains reached 20 there would be no problem for them, he added.
The BoIT vice chairman said that pillars would be erected for construction of the overhead bridge from Nauthia to Hayatabad. He said that the railway track had not been used for the past several decades but even then the rapid bus services would not cause any problem for the trains.
Initially, the route of the bus was consisted of only 13 stations but now 21 stops have also been included in it. The project, to be completed at a cost of Rs14 billion, will provide better transport facility to about 0.1 million people on daily basis.
Mr Aziz said that the project was the best precedent of public-private partnership, involving no subsidy or incentives for the operators. The commuters would be charged only Rs30 to Rs40, he said, adding that initially 52 buses would be run on the route.
The BoIT vice chairman said that the project was likely to be completed in a period of 14 to 16 months. The width of the double carriage bus route would be 24 feet while each station would be 32 feet wide, he said.
The federal government, he said, could not reject the plan on technical grounds. He added that officials of ministries of railways and defence had already agreed to the project principally. “Now the problem is only political,” he said and seemed optimistic the approval of the project.
Mr Aziz also demanded lifting of ban on issuance of new gas connections in the province. He said that the province was generating 370 MMCFD to 380 MMCFD gas while the industries were utilising only 40 MMCFD gas but even then new connections were banned in the province.
Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2014
http://www.dawn.com/news/1148257/feasibility-ready-for-rapid-bus-service-in-peshawar

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

[h=1]Ransom money being used by militants: IGP

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa inspector general of police Nasir Khan Durrani on Monday claimed the ransom and extortion money collected in the province was being used for militant activities.
He was speaking at a special ceremony organised at the central police office here to distribute cash and commendation certificates to Karak and Tank police personnel over the recovery of three schoolchildren kidnapped in Bannu lately.
Among the policemen were inspector M Riaz, inspector Azmat, head constable Naseer Iqbal and constable Ibrahim from Karak and head constables Abdul Ghaffar, Tahir Habib and Shah Khalid from Tank.
The IGP praised the ‘professionalism, valour, strategy and timely action’ on the policemen, who recovered students, and said he hoped that they would continue with the excellent performance.
He said kidnappings for ransom and targeted killings were major issues facing the province.
Durrani said by and large, he was satisfied with the performance of the provincial police for successfully cracking down on target killers and extortionists.
He said the police were committed to checking targeted killings and kidnappings for ransom incidents in the province at all costs.
The IGP asked policemen to remain alert to prevent incidents of targeted killing and kidnapping for ransom.
In a statement issued here, a spokesman for the police said the kidnappers had demanded Rs90 million for the release of kidnapped students and the families were ready to pay Rs30 million ransom for their children’s release.
It said after an encounter, the police arrested a kidnapper and two targeted killers.
The statement said the gunmen had injured a SHO and his gunner by firing gunshots on a police mobile van and fled to FR Mulazai area.
It said the police trapped attackers and brought them back to the settled area before arresting them and seizing arms used in the attack.
PASSING OUT PARADE: The passing out parade of the 139th traffic training course was held at Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines here on Monday.
AIG Training Abbas Majeed Marwat was the chief guest at the function, where SSP traffic Wahid Mehmood, Traffic Training School principal Rafiullah, DSP Rahim Hussain and senior police officials were in attendance.
Eighty-nine policemen participated in the three months long course.
The personnel were trained on traffic laws, motor vehicle ordinance, code of conduct, highway code, traffic lights and first aid.
Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2014
http://www.dawn.com/news/1148259/ransom-money-being-used-by-militants-igp
[/h]

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

Work on Torghar hydropower station soon

MANSEHRA: Work on the Barindo hydropower station in Madakhail area of Torghar is likely to begin soon at the initial amount of Rs6 billion after the finalisation of the feasibility study.
This was stated by MPA Zareen Gul Khan while talking to reporters here on Monday.
The power station will be the first in Torghar, which had become a settled district from a tribal belt of Mansehra district through a presidential order in 2011.
The MPA said the process to tender the small hydropower project of Barindo was in final stages and once the process was over, which was likely to take place soon, work on the project would get underway.
He said on completion, the power station would bring prosperity and development to the area, where people cultivated poppy to earn a livelihood.
Zareen said local residents would leave cultivating poppy after the power station began production and thus, triggering massive economic activity in the area.
He said a dam would be built on the Barindo River, which flowed from Swati to Torghar before merging with the Indus River at the initial amount of Rs6 billion.
The MPA said the electricity produced by the power station would be supplied to the people in the district and other parts in the division at very cheap rate.
He said the project would bring a revolutionary change to the life of local people as they could install small industrial units to earn livelihoods.
Zareen said unlike others, the Barindo power station won’t link to the national grid station. He said the people of Madakhail and Hassanzai areas had rendered plots for Tarbela dam but they were still without residential plots and other benefits.
“The local people are being compensated for their losses caused by Tarbela dam. They’re much pleased by the launch of the project,” he said.
The local MPA said 20 small hydropower stations were also being installed in different parts of district, which were without electric supply.
Khan said Rs10-Rs50 million would be spent on the each proposed hydropower station.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2014

http://www.dawn.com/news/1148236/work-on-torghar-hydropower-station-soon

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

3rd December 2014

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

Peshawar falls to 10th place from 6th in education report

PESHAWAR: Peshawar ranks 10th out of 25 districts in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), according to Alif Ailaan Pakistan District Education Ranking Report 2014. Even though education is heavily featured in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s manifesto and is the most-oft heard sound byte from government officials, Peshawar is four spots down from the year before.

The report suggests Peshawar, the capital of K-P, has the lowest standards of education in the province, measuring various variables in the public sector.
Language barriers

It revealed only 16% of students in class five at government primary schools in the city can read a story in Urdu while only 24% of them can read a sentence in English. The percentage of students capable of reading Urdu has declined from last year when at least 22% of them could read a story in Urdu.

However, the readability of English has increased by 2%.
In school

The rate of enrolment of school-going age children—girls and boys—in primary, middle and high schools in 2013 was higher than the current year’s.

The net enrolment rate in girls primary schools stands at 68% while that of boys is 67%. In middle schools the rate stands at 23% for girls and 27% for boys, and in high schools it is 12% and 13% for girls and boys, respectively.

According to the report, there are currently 414 girls and 647 boys primary schools in Peshawar. The number of female teachers in these schools is 2,175 while that of male teachers is 3,379.
Of loos and lavatories
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The report was, however, positive about developments in school infrastructure and facilities in 2014.
It stated 91% of schools in the district have lavatories while 80% of schools have clean drinking water.
At least 61% of schools have electricity and 95% of schools are privileged enough to have boundary walls.
Yet, 4% of schools are functioning with only one classroom to accommodate all students.
Teacher-student ratio
However, there are still some schools where the teacher-student ratio is not quite impressive. Around 12% of schools have only one teacher for all students. In primary schools, there is one teacher for every 48 students.
Alif Ailaan Network Coordinator Umar Orakzai told The Express Tribune schools lack properly trained teachers.
He said the government should work on boosting the quality of education by training teachers in their relevant subjects.
Education department’s Additional Secretary Qaisar Alam said the present government utilised last year’s entire budget for education.
This year, Orakzai said, they have started various development projects to bring improvements in the education sector.
“Due to Tameer-e-School Programme, the construction of 50 schools has been completed so far with all required facilities, while 65 schools are under construction.”
He added 4,217 posts of primary, middle and high school teachers are also open for application. Tests will be conducted through NTS to hire these teachers.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3[SUP]rd[/SUP], 2014.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/800801/peshawar-falls-to-10th-place-from-6th-in-education-report/

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

Air-conditioned bus service for Peshawar

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to launch air conditioned bus service in Peshawar to provide speedy and comfortable travelling facilities to the commuters.
The plan of launching the new bus service in Peshawar was approved in a meeting held here on Tuesday with Chief Minister Pervez Khattak in the chair, said a handout.
The CNG bus scheme will be introduced by multinational transport company ‘Bucephalus’ under public-private partnership. The company named after famous horse of Alexander the Great will invest initially $200 million with plying a fleet of 150 mini buses on Peshawar mass transit corridor-II, from Chamkani to Hayatabad, while 50 more buses will be added to this fleet after every six months.
Besides Bucephalus chairman Guillaume Jamart and chief executive Ali Arshad Khan, the meeting was also attended by Adviser to Chief Minister Shah Mohammad Khan Wazir, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mohammad Ishfaq Khan, Transport Secretary Sardar Abbas, CM Complaint Cell chairman and head of donor coordination Dilroz Khan and other officials concerned.
The representatives of the company said that following an agreement with transport department and node of chief minister, the bus service would be launched in June next year. The meeting was told that about 800 people would get employment in the bus service including trained lady drivers.
The 32-seat automatic mini-bus having separate portions for men and women will be run on the route in two shifts from 6am to 10pm. The bus will cover the 25-kilometre journey in 50 minutes with two minutes pause on every stop. The fare can be paid in cash, through card and SMS that will facilitate the people of Peshawar to reach their destinations timely and easily.
The chief minister asked the transport department to conduct another session with the company for identification and allocation of 100-kanal land for the bus terminal comprising stands, workshops and service stations of the company as well as fixation of the fares.
He said that the people of Peshawar needed affordable transport fares. He directed all the departments concerned to take effective and result-oriented steps to streamline and facilitate smooth flow of all sort of transport including the bus service.
The chief minister said that the company was running successfully its bus service in Belgium, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, USA and Eastern European countries. He said that the service would be extended to other cities of the province.
Mr Khattak also welcomed the offer of the company to launch electric rechargeable rickshaws. He said that the rechargeable auto-rickshaws would be launched in rural areas.
Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2014

http://www.dawn.com/news/1148472/air-conditioned-bus-service-for-peshawar

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

Contractors held over corruption

PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has arrested Bannu Development Authority contractors Taj Ali and Malik Zaman in a corruption case.

A news release issued by the NAB here said during inquiry, it was discovered that Taj Ali and Malik Zaman were illegally given several developmental projects, including construction of roads and protection walls and installation of streetlights, for Bannu Township during 2011-12.

“The contractors used substandard material in all these works and charged highly exorbitant rates and thus causing a loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer.”

The release said the NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had already arrested divisional account officer of the Bannu Development Authority Mohammad Tayyab in the case. It said the bureau was actively pursuing the inquiry, so more arrests over the corruption were on the cards.

The release said the NAB would produce the suspects before an accountability court today (Wednesday) for physical remand.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2014
http://www.dawn.com/news/1148470/contractors-held-over-corruption

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

4th Dec 2014

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

05 Dec 2014

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

06 Dec 2014

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

Where the cracks show: Southern parts of K-P more vulnerable to climate change

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Karak, DI Khan and north-western districts of Upper and Lower Dir also at risk. PHOTO: REUTERS

PESHAWAR: The southern parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Asfar Khan, the deputy director of the province’s new Climate Change Cell, told The Express Tribune on Thursday the areas which are most likely to experience a drastic change of climate include Karak and DI Khan as well as the north-western areas of Upper and Lower Dir.
The deputy director said there has been a substantial reduction in rainfall and ground water. “This is likely to adversely affect food security, livestock production and environmental and natural resources in the area,” he added.

The deputy director claimed K-P has not experienced severe droughts in recent years. “The province has two seasons of rainfalls,” he added. “If there is no rain during the kharif season, there is always rain in the rabbi season to balance it out.”
However, the southern region of the province is predominantly arid and does not receive significant rainfall. “Moreover, there is higher solar radiation in the southern parts of K-P,” said Khan.
Domino effect
The deputy director said the cell carefully studied changing patterns of rainfall in Upper Dir, Lower Dir and Karak. The environmental body is also in the process of collecting detailed data on the actual impact of climate change. “We have come to the conclusion these areas will experience a severe water shortage for agricultural purposes over the next few years,” he said.
Khan added the sowing season of the wheat crop begins on November 17. However, the pattern of rainfall has changed drastically and is likely to create a wheat shortage. “If farmers delay the crop due to the rains, it would surely impact its quality,” the deputy director said.
Agricultural scientists must be prepared to tackle these challenges to ensure food security is not compromised, he added. “We have to provide maximum guidelines to all stakeholders,” said Khan. “They have to devise a strategy to cope witn these changes.”
According to Khan, the new cell is formulating a climate change policy for the entire province. “Since the cell became operational in June, we have been closely examining the impact of climate change on K-P,” said Khan.
Challenges and solutions
The new cell was established by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in June 2014. K-P is the first province to have introduced a climate change cell.

The purpose of the cell is to assess the impact of climate change on the province and examine the multilateral agreements which Pakistan has signed. However, there are still a series of challenges which need to be addressed.
The last environmental profile of the province was conducted in 2009 by the EPA conducted. Since then, the agency has failed to update information to create a more current environmental profile.
According to the agency, it has discussed the matter with various agriculture scientists and environmentalists. They have emphasised on the construction of dams to store water for both agricultural and drinking purposes.
Moreover, agriculture scientists in the province are trying to develop strategies to prevent the likelihood of drought in the province.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 5[SUP]th[/SUP], 2014.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/801823/...rts-of-k-p-more-vulnerable-to-climate-change/

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

Birds without wings: CGPA demands rules of business for K-P RTI legislation

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CGPA urges the govt to extend the law’s jurisdiction to PATA. PHOTO: REUTERS

PESHAWAR: Centre for Governance and Public Accountability (CGPA) has demanded the government make public the rules of business for the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information law (K-P RTI) to ensure its full implementation.
Addressing a news conference on Thursday, CGPA Executive Director Muhammad Anwar said the rules that should have been framed immediately after the law’s enactment are still awaited due to bureaucratic formalities.

Anwar hailed the significance of K-P RTI for indoctrination of democratic principles and strengthening public institutions. However, he blamed the government for offsetting its benefits by delaying the issuance of its rules of business.
Citing the progress, he said 233 citizens have filed complaints with the RTI commission so far. Of these, 135 cases have been resolved while 98 cases are yet to be decided.
Extending jurisdiction
Anwar also demanded the extension of the K-P RTI Act 2013 to the Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (Pata).
Passed almost a year ago, the act still does not encompass Pata which has given birth to a sense of deprivation amongst the people. Anwar said the citizens of Pata have no legal means to access information relevant to the public domain.
Article 246 of the Constitution of Pakistan identifies Swat, Upper and Lower Dir, Chitral, tribal areas of Kohistan and Malakand as Provincially Administered Tribal Areas. Shedding light on the dilemma, Anwar said that while Article 247 makes way for Pata lawmakers in the provincial assembly, it restricts their representation.

He added Article 19-A of the Constitution grants the right to information held by public bodies to every citizen, alleging the people of Pata are being denied a right approved by the law of the land.
He demanded amendments to all legal injunctions that act as a glass ceiling for the people of the tribal areas.
Hidden agenda?
Anwar said that the beneficiaries of the culture of secrecy are behind the delay in K-P RTI’s smooth implementation. He urged civil society and the media to remain vigilant of such elements and continue to raise awareness about a fundamental right of the people.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 5[SUP]th[/SUP], 2014.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/801842/...ds-rules-of-business-for-k-p-rti-legislation/

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

Shady procurement: PHC issues pre-admission notices to six off icials in weapons purchase scam

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday issued pre-admission notices to former Frontier Constabulary (FC) commandant Abdul Majeed Marwat and five other officials in a billion-rupee weapons procurement scam.
The notices were issued by a division bench of Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Syed Afsar Shah. The court was hearing a petition filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa through its deputy prosecutor general Muhammad Jamil.

Jamil informed the court that funds had been embezzled by police officials while purchasing weapons and other equipment for the police department between 2008 and 2010. Moreover, four people** — including former inspector general Malik Naveed — have already been arrested in the case.
According to Jamil, the six officials had acted negligently and should be ordered to appear before an accountability court. However, the accountability court had refused to summon them.
The officials include former additional IGP and former FC Commandant Abdul Majeed Marwat, former additional IGP operations Abdul Latif Khan, Central Police Office DIG Sajid Ali Khan, former headquarters DIG Muhammad Suleman Khan, the then AIG establishment Khashil Alam, former telecommunications DIG Sadiq Kamal Orakzai.
After hearing the arguments from NAB’s deputy prosecutor general, the court issued pre-admission notices to the officials to submit their replies in the case.
NAB had filed a reference of corruption worth Rs2.03 billion. It claimed that the officials had embezzled the amount while purchasing weapons and other equipment for the police department.
Earlier on November 24, accountability court judge Muhammad Ibrahim Khan said the reference filed by NAB had ‘no sequence effect’. The accountability court had said the status of these six accused has been neither highlighted nor clearly defined in the reference.
As a result, it would remain inactive against the accused. Moreover, it had summoned four others, including former inspector general of police, on November 29 to frame charges in the case. However, charges were not framed because NAB challenged the accountability court’s order in the high court.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/801829/...s-to-six-off-icials-in-weapons-purchase-scam/
On September 11, PHC dismissed a petition which requested the high court to order an accountability court to summon the six serving and former senior police officials in the weapons scam.
The order of the accountability court added the NAB chairman can, as and when he deems fit, present sound justifications as to why the officials were not arrested.
If the court is satisfied with the chairman’s reasoning, it will summon
the officials.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 5[SUP]th[/SUP], 2014.

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

Talking points: CM reaffirms commitment to hold LG polls in April

PESHAWAR: Repeating the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government’s (K-P) earlier stance, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said the province is ready to hold local bodies’ elections in April. According to Khattak, 30% of the budgetary allocations will be utilised through these bodies.
Khattak was addressing attendees of a National Defence University course at Chief Minister House in Peshawar on Thursday. Participants also included members of national and provincial assemblies.
“All arrangements for local government institutions are in their final stages and elections will take place in April.”
Reiterating his party’s stance on ensuring ground participation in policy making, Khattak said, “The world will see our local government system will be different from Punjab,” where Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has monopolised all powers, said the chief minster of K-P.
The cons of Kalabagh
The construction of Kalabagh Dam is harmful to the interests of this province, Khattak responded to a question about the Dam.
He said he recalled attending a Wapda briefing on the pros of the project some 25 years ago. However, he said, 10 minutes into the presentation, “all of us walked out as we found [the proposal] very harmful.”
In 2010, he added, most of Nowshera, its towns, villages and hamlets were underwater for several days. “After the construction [of Kalabagh] the whole of Peshawar Valley could be affected; its people would require boats to travel from one place to another.”
The displacement
Internally displaced persons (IDP) from North Waziristan are the responsibility of the federal government and “the province has no concern with the matter”.
However, he claimed, the K-P government is providing Rs3,000 in rent to each displaced family on humanitarian grounds. “Every month Rs300-350 million from the provincial exchequer is being spent on IDPs.”
PTI’s agenda for change
Khattak stated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was determined to implement ‘change’ in K-P.
“Unless you satisfy the public, there can be no reforms in this country,” said the K-P CM. “And we have the mandate to bring change; we are determined to go ahead with the wishes and expectations of the people.”
Highlighting his government’s work, Khattak said, in addition to streamlining affairs of tertiary hospitals, it plans to construct several other hospitals.
He claimed corruption and the menace of bribes has been eliminated from police stations and patwar khanas. Conceding that corruption could not be ended until government employees were paid more, Khattak promised to make reasonable increments in their wages.
Khattak reminded his audience that “so far 140 bills and acts have been tabled in the assembly, whereas a number of important bills have already been passed.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 5[SUP]th[/SUP], 2014.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/801825/talking-points-cm-reaffirms-commitment-to-hold-lg-polls-in-april/

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

7th December 2014

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

مشرق والوں کو نئی تصویر بھی چھاپنی چاھے تھی تاکے پتا چلتا آج کے پشاور کی کیا حالت ھے ؟

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

Swat’s broken roads major obstacle to revival of tourism

MINGORA: The dilapidated condition of roads in the scenic Swat valley has been hindering efforts to promote tourism industry in the militancy-hit region. Travel on almost all small and big roads of the district seems difficult and hours-long traffic jams have become a routine. Long queues of vehicles can be seen on the grand trunk road and byroads of the city.

A bypass was constructed at Qambar to streamline traffic flow in the city as it links the GT road with Kabal tehsil, Fizzagut, and other tourist spots of Swat district, but this route is now being used by many motorcyclists, leading to fatal mishaps.

The government seems to have no plan for widening the roads as it failed to reconstruct the Kalam road. The poor road infrastructure has been affecting the tourism industry since 2010 when Kalam road was washed away by severe flood.

The hotel owners say that if the government is sincere in the restoration of tourism in Swat district it must pay due attention to the construction and expansion of roads as the narrow roads are in bad shape and the tourists have been facing trouble in reaching their destinations.
Haji Zahid Khan, president of All Swat Hotels Association, said that roads played a big role in promotion of tourism. He said that roads in Swat were in bad shape for the last five years, but the government was yet to take practical steps in solving this lingering issue.

Zeerab Gul, a senior traffic police official in Mingora city, told this correspondent that roads in Swat district, particularly in Mingora city, were not in a condition where one could control the growing traffic flow. He said the traffic burden had increased manifold since the use of non-customs paid (NCP) vehicles over the last couple of years.
He stressed the need for widening the arteries and major roads in the interior city, adding that no shop owner was willing to give a piece of his land for road expansion rather they were trying to occupy more space.

He said that police were facing a lot of troubles in controlling the traffic flow, particularly during summer season when there was a rush of tourists everywhere in Swat valley.
He said that Mingora roads, still in bad condition, were being used by both the local people and tourists to approach tourist spots in parts of the valley.

“Thousands of vehicles enter the Mingora city from different rural areas of the district daily,” he said, adding that there should be a proper traffic control plan. However, it will be possible only by widening and repairing the roads.

The district administration has initiated some steps to reduce the traffic problems, but there is no permanent traffic plan with the administration to ensure smooth flow of traffic and provide relief to commuters.

“The problems related to traffic have been affecting our efforts to promote tourism in Swat,” said deputy commissioner Mehmood Aslam Wazir. He said that apart from a large number of NCP vehicles there were 3,000 to 4,000 illegal auto-rickshaws in Mingora city, which had been affecting the traffic system. “We will soon launch a campaign against illegal rickshaws to streamline traffic and facilitate both the road users,” he said.

He said that the government had acquired 50 kanals at new bypass road for establishing general bus stand to minimise traffic burden on the city routes. After shifting the Mingora bus stand to bypass road the administration will also shift the vegetable market from the city to bypass road.
Mr Wazir said that the NCP vehicles were the major source of traffic problem. He said that the district administration had already banned reassembling of vehicles by imposing Section 144 in Swat.

“We are taking all possible steps to ensure better traffic system in Mingora city to ensure that tourists do not face problems,” he said, adding that the provincial government was taking steps for revival of tourism in Swat.

He said that they would soon carry out work on a plan for beautification of Mingora city, which would be implemented with a cost of Rs80 million. “Apart from necessary repair of roads, the monuments, green belt and squares will also be constructed under the project,” he said.
Answering a question, the deputy commissioner said that reconstruction of Kalam road was a longstanding demand of the people and work on this road would be started soon. He said that this road was a key to promotion of tourism in the scenic valleys of Kalam, Utror, Mahudand, etc.

“The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has awarded lease of Malam Jabba ski resort to a private company for 33 years,” Mr Wazir said and added that the company would construct five-star and three-star hotels in Malam Jabba besides installing the chairlift and developing ski track. He said that the provincial government had demarcated 275 acres for the project.

The deputy commissioner said that the government would also repair and widen the approach road to Malam Jabba. “The district administration will demolish encroachments in Malam Jabba to make the valley a beautiful picnic resort for the visitors,” he concluded.
Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2014

http://www.dawn.com/news/1149339/swats-broken-roads-major-obstacle-to-revival-of-tourism

 

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