KP & FATA development/rehabilitation projects

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Three small dams to be constructed in Swabi​

SWABI, Oct 16: Work on the construction of three small dams in the district will be started soon as their feasibility report has been finalised.

During a briefing here on Saturday, Provincial Minister for Women Welfare Sitara Ayaz was told that the proposed dams would irrigate about 16,700 acres barren land in the district, especially in Gadoon Amazai mountainous region. The leaders of Awami National Party and officials of the irrigation department attended the briefing.

The main objectives of Kundal, Bada and Pabini dams are to irrigate the barren land and produce electricity for the residents of the district. All these projects are located in the mountainous re gions of the Gadoon Amazai belt.

In addition, 4,300 acres infertile land of the district would be irrigated with the wideness of Pehur Canal, increasing total irrigated land in the district to 21,000 acres.

The officials said that the main problem for the farmers of the district was non-availability of water.

The problem would be solved after widening the canal and construction of the dams, they added. “Many infertile areas of the district need urgent attention. The government has been striving hard to bring more land under irrigation system to enable the people to cultivate different crops,” they said.

The government would be also able to control food shortage, which frequently hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province when wheat supply was stopped by Punjab.

The minister said that government was working on various projects in the district as it wanted to fulfil the pledges made by ANP leaders with the people during the general elections. All the promises made with the people would be met, she added.

The minister also inaugurated work on construction of three-kilometre Baja-Kalabat Canal Road. The road would be completed at a cost of Rs14.5 million.

The project would be completed within one year. The minister said that various links and main roads in the district had already been constructed and widened while many more were in the pipeline.
swabi, oct 16: work on the construction of three small dams in the district will be started soon as their feasi- bility report has been final- ised. during a briefing here on saturday, provincial minister for women welfare sitara ayaz was told that the pro- posed dams would irrigate about 16,700 acres barren land in the district, especially in gadoon amazai mountain- ous region. the leaders of awami national party and of- ficials of the irrigation de- partment attended the brief- ing. the main objectives of kundal, bada and pabini dams are to irrigate the bar- ren land and produce electric- ity for the residents of the dis- trict. all these projects are lo- cated in the mountainous re- gions of the gadoon amazai belt. in addition, 4,300 acres in- fertile land of the district would be irrigated with the wideness of pehur canal, in- creasing total irrigated land in the district to 21,000 acres. the officials said that the main problem for the farmers of the district was non-availa- bility of water. the problem would be solved after widening the ca- nal and construction of the dams, they added. “many in- fertile areas of the district need urgent attention. the government has been striving hard to bring more land under irrigation system to enable the people to cultivate differ- ent crops,” they said. the government would be also able to control food short- age, which frequently hit khyber pakhtunkhwa prov- ince when wheat supply was stopped by punjab. the minister said that gov- ernment was working on vari- ous projects in the district as it wanted to fulfil the pledges made by anp leaders with the people during the general elections. all the promises made with the people would be met, she added. the minister also inaugura- ted work on construction of three-kilometre baja-kalabat canal road. the road would be completed at a cost of rs14.5 million. the project would be com- pleted within one year. the minister said that various links and main roads in the district had already been con- structed and widened while many more were in the pipe- line.
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Only latest news in this section, dont post stuff up from 20 days ago

Famers to get seed, fertiliser soon​

BATKHELA, Oct 16: The farmers would soon get seed and fertilisers as the provincial government had approved a plan to compensate the residents of Malakand protected area affected by the devastating flashflood, said Executive District Officer (Agriculture) Aslam Khan.

He said that distribution of relief goods and Watan Cards among the owners of destroyed houses and shops was continued in Malakand and soon seed and fertilisers would be provided to the farmers.

He said that provincial government approved to provide 14,000 bags of wheat seeds and the same quantity of urea and Rs28,000 to the farmers of the area. “The same will be distributed soon among the affected farmers of Malakand protected area,” he added.Mr Khan said that one bag each of fertiliser and seeds would be given to every farmer having land from one acre to five acres. However, the fate of the farmers having land more than five acres was yet to be decided, he said.

On the other hand farmers have expressed concern over the provision of meagre relief to them, saying they have suffered huge financial losses and a bag of fertiliser and wheat seeds will not minimise their sufferings.

DCO Javed Marwat told Dawn that total of 2,200 families were affected. Nadra was examining registration of 1,600 families, he said. He added that verification of documents of 514 families completed and 400 out of them were provided with Watan Cards.

The DCO said that tenders were flouted and contactors were directed to complete construction work on the destroyed roads in tehsil Dargai and Batkhela within three months.
batkhela, oct 16: the farmers would soon get seed and fertilisers as the provin- cial government had ap- proved a plan to compensate the residents of malakand protected area affected by the devastating flashflood, said executive district officer (agriculture) aslam khan. he said that distribution of relief goods and watan cards among the owners of destroyed houses and shops was contin- ued in malakand and soon seed and fertilisers would be provided to the farmers. he said that provincial gov- ernment approved to provide 14,000 bags of wheat seeds and the same quantity of urea and rs28,000 to the farmers of the area. “the same will be distributed soon among the affected farmers of malakand protected area,” he added.mr khan said that one bag each of fertiliser and seeds would be given to every farmer hav- ing land from one acre to five acres. however, the fate of the farmers having land more than five acres was yet to be decided, he said. on the other hand farmers have expressed concern over the provision of meagre relief to them, saying they have suf- fered huge financial losses and a bag of fertiliser and wheat seeds will not mini- mise their sufferings. dco javed marwat told dawn that total of 2,200 fami- lies were affected. nadra was examining registration of 1,600 families, he said. he add- ed that verification of docu- ments of 514 families comple- ted and 400 out of them were provided with watan cards. the dco said that tenders were flouted and contactors were directed to complete construction work on the de- stroyed roads in tehsil dargai and batkhela within three months.
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1,500 Fata women get vocational training

PESHAWAR, Oct 16: The Fata Development Authority has trained 2,260 youth and 1,500 women under its various skills and vocational development programmes being run in the tribal regions.

Three different projects; institution based youth skill development programme, youth skills development field internship programme and women skills development centres would continue up till June 2011 and would cost Rs559.976 million.

This was stated at a presentation to the Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Owais Ahmed Ghani at Governor House on Saturday.

FDA Chief Executive Attaullah Khan, Secretary to Governor Sikandar Qayum, Secretary A&C Fata Abid Majid besides general managers and manager FDA attended the presentation. Haji Bismillah Khan, member FDA Steering Committee was also present.

A statement issued here on Saturday said the presentation covered different aspects of the programmes including up-to-date achievements, new initiatives for promotion and expansion of skills development programmes in Fata and performance of skills development cell established to carry out detailed survey and prepare feasibility under various sectors.

The meeting was informed that 459 Fata youth were undergoing training in different technical and vocational institutes of national repute.

Under initially set target, 6,690 youth and 10,335 women were to be provided technical and vocational training. Under institution-based youth skills development programme, selected youth from Fata were sent to technical in stitutes and colleges for short and long term courses in different trades.

On job training was also provided to youth under another youth skill development field internship programme. Tribal women were trained in the women skills development centres, established throughout Fata.

While appreciating the overall achievements, the governor emphasised the need for expanding the scope of these programmes particularly the output of women skills development centres, adding, these efforts would lead towards youth and women empowerment through skills development providing them the opportunity to earn reasonable livelihood.

The governor issued directives for adding more common and value-added trades in these programmes. He said funds availability should be ensured and efforts must be made to make the inactive women skills development centres functional.

He particularly referred to the solar cooking technology and wished that this should be included in the training curricula of women skills development centres. He assured to provide two locally made solar cooking stoves for the purpose. On a point the governor said disable people from Fata should also be made part of the new initiatives by establishing at least one vocational centre for them.

He supported the proposed strategy for public-private partnership for both pretraining and post-training stages to run the women skills development centres and urged that this possibility should be thoroughly explored.

 

[Creder]

Health dept takes steps against dengue spread


PESHAWAR, Oct 18: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department has taken several steps to arrest the spread of dengue fever in Hazara division and Shangla district, according to a report issued here by the director general, health, on Monday.

The report said that the recent infection was reported from Dhab No. 2 Mansehra city, village on Khaki Road, Lohar Banda, Hari Mera, Khaki, Oghi, Baffa, Khwajgan and Jaloo.

It said that Tarbela and Khanpur dams were reported to be the cause of the fever in Kalabut, Makan Colony, Saeedabad, Pind Gojran, Pania, Sarai Saleh, Vijian and central jail area of Haripur district in addition to Havelian tehsil and the areas in Abbottabad adjacent to Haripur.

Enumerating the anti-dengue steps taken so far, the report said that district coordination committees had been established in Mansehra, Abbottabad and Haripur. The executive district officer of health, EDOs (E), EDOs (livestock), TMA, Auqaf department, EDO finance and media personnel are members of the committee. The committee held its first meeting on Oct 13.

According to the report, 22 female medical technicians (FMTs) and 14 lady health supervisors (LHSs) are being trained in Mansehra for treating the patients in the affected areas. Similar training for health staff has also been started in Abbottabad and Haripur. Fever clinics for surveillance in each identified affected area have been started.

The report said that surveillance system had been established in King Abdullah Teaching Hospital (KATH), Mansehra, and Ayub Teaching Hospital (ATH), Abbottabad, and DHQ hospital, Haripur.

It said that 600 impregnated bed nets were distributed in Haripur, 60 in ATH, 30 in KATH, 20 in DHQ Abbottabad and 100 in the field to suspected and confirmed cases.

Also, isolation wards have been established in hospitals that include a 20-bed ward in ATH, 10-bed in DHQ Abbottabad, six-bed in KATH and 10-bed ward in DHQ hospital in Haripur. Besides, two fog machines have been provided in Haripur and one in Mansehra.

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Gas royalty to be spent on Karak uplift


KARAK, Oct 18: The District Development Committee approved different developmental schemes, which would to be completed with the amount given to the district as royalty on oil and gas.

The committee met here on Monday with DCO Javed Ahmad Khan in the chair. The meeting approved 39 drinking water supply schemes in tehsil Banda Daud Shah. These schemes will be completed at a cost of Rs35,339,000.

The meeting also approved seven schemes of electrification for different villages and allocated Rs52,475,000 for them.

The participants of the meeting said that some villages like Alwargi Banda, Painda Banda and Noshpa Banda needed electricity since long. Those areas would be provided with electricity on priority basis, they said.

The deputy directors of Communication and Works and Public Health Engineering, Aziz Khattak and Gul Shahid Khan respectively, Pesco Deputy Manager Iqbal Marwat and Executive District Officer (Finance) Said Akbar Khan attended the meeting.

The committee also ap proved seven road construction schemes in different areas and allocated Rs17,357,000 for these projects. The committee members said that some villages in Banda Daud Shah had no access to roads in this modern era.

The meeting decided that work on all schemes would be started as soon as the fund was available. It resolved that developmental schemes would be completed within stipulated time.

The meeting said that fund for those schemes would be provided from the royalty on oil and gas. It added that most of the developmental schemes would be initiated in Banda Daud Shah.

ROAD MISHAP: Four persons received injuries in a road accident here on Monday. Two of the injured were referred to Peshawar.

Police said that two motorcars coming from opposite directions collided near Jail Chowk on Indus Highway, leaving four persons seriously injured.

The injured were identified as Jehan Ijaz, Dr Khayal Mohammad, Asif Nawaf and a woman Sania Muneer. Jehan Ijaz and Dr Khyal Mohammad were referred to Peshawar in precarious condition.

 

[Creder]

Lowari Tunnel to open in winter

CHITRAL, Oct 18: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has said that the unfinished Lowari Tunnel will be opened for the general public during the upcoming winter season to avert inconvenience to passengers and replenishment of the commodities of daily life.

Speaking on the occasion of the inauguration of Abdul Wali Khan Bypass road in Chitral here on Monday, he said Lowari Tunnel project was of prime importance for the socio-economic uplift of the area which will bring about revolution in the field of development.

He said that the tremendous hydro-power capacity of the district had not been exploited while his government had initiated a number of hyro-power projects in the area.Regarding the importance of the bypass road, he said it ranked second to the Lowari Tunnel project and had been the longstanding demand of the people of Chitral. Mr Hoti announced to provide additional Rs170 million for the project before June next.

Regarding the political instability in the country, he said that no political force could afford it and this sense would unite all under a single banner. He reiterated that there was no imminent threat to democracy.

Mr Hoti said that the issues of terrorism and floods had constrained his government to carry out development projects on large scale.

Earlier, the chief minister distributed Watan Cards among the flood affected people in Chitral town and Booni.

He was accompanied by Senior Minister Rahimdad Khan and Bashir Ahmed Bilour. MNA from Chitral Shahzada Mohiuddin, provincial Minister Salim Khan and MPA from Chitral Ghulam Mohammad also spoke on the occasion to highlight the problems of the area.

 

[Creder]

QAU alumni to help 1,800 flood-hit students


ABBOTTABAD Oct 18: A get-together of old students of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad, was held here in connection with countrywide fund-raising campaign to assist 1,800 flood-affected students of the university.

The QAU alumni belonging to various cities of Hazara region attended the function. Murtaza Noor, secretary general of the QAU Alumni Association, briefed the participants about the measures taken by the association to help the 37 per cent students of the university who had been affected by the flood.

He said that the measures include award of 25 need-based scholarships, assistance to affected students in job placement and establishment of flood relief fund for providing financial assistance to the students. He said that regional chapters of the alumni had been activated for fund raising campaign.

Mr Noor said that among the affected students 34 per cent belonged to Punjab, 28 per cent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 19 per cent Sindh, two per cent AJK, eight per cent Fata and six per cent were from Northern Areas. He appealed the alumni to come forward and assist their alma mater in this critical time.

Speaking on the occasion, Hazara University vice chancellor Prof. Sakhawat Ali Shah praised the efforts of QAU Alumni Association to assist the students from flood-stricken areas and observed that other universities could follow the QAU for assisting their students.

He proposed that each university should establish permanent student welfare fund to provide financial support to its students during emergency situation.

 

[Creder]

Contractors get Rs5bn dues of quake projects


MANSEHRA, Oct 19: The federal government has released Rs5 billion of contractors working on reconstruction projects in 2005 earthquake-affected areas here.

Speaking at a joint press conference here on Tuesday, MNA Laiq Mohammad and president of the Hazara contractors association Paristan Khan said that the federal government had released the first tranche of Rs5 billion with the assurance that the remaining dues would soon be cleared.

Mr Laiq said that he would take up the issue of outstanding money of the contractors with the prime minister.

They said that it was high time that the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) should focus on the payment to contractors so that work on ongoing reconstruction projects in five affected districts could be completed.

Survivors protest: Survivors of Balakot have said that they will not sit back unless the government and Erra ensure transparent use of funds allocated for the earthquake reconstruction projects.

“The government had spent the funds of survivors on other heads as a result of which our problems could not be addressed even five years after October 8, 2005 earthquake tragedy,” said speakers at a jirga held at Garlat (Balakot) on Tuesday.

A large number of people from Garlat and other areas of Balakot were present in the jirga. The jirga, which was addressed by Maulana Mohammad Inam, Haji Fazlur Rehman and others, decided to hold a protest demonstration on October 22.

They said that they could not live any longer in small shelter houses. “Our children and women have been the victim of overcrowding and we are fed up of recurring skin and other diseases in congested places,” they said.

 

[The Clarifier]

All development is good development

 

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Luwari Road Tunnel​

‘PM promises to provide Rs 1.5bn for early completion’

ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has promised to provide Rs 1.5 billion for the early completion of Luwari Road Tunnel, whereas the government has allocated Rs 6.5 billion this year for construction projects of National Highway Authority (NHA) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Federal Minister for Communications Dr Arbab Alamgir Khan Khalil said this at a meeting chaired by him in the Ministry of Communications. The meeting was also attended by the National Assembly Member from Chitral Shahzada Mohayy-ud-din, Federal Secretary Communications Anwar Ahmad Khan, Additional Secretary Amjad Nazeer, NHA Chairman Syed Muhammad Ali Gardezi, Construction Member Aurangzeb Khan, Luwari Tunnel Colonel GM (r) Salman Arshad, representatives of SAMBO and other high officials.

Earlier, the federal minister was briefed on the progress of NHA projects. He was told that the National Highway Council recently reviewed the development portfolio of NHA for Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2011-12 and approved province-wise distribution of funds. In the current budget 2011-12, Rs 8782.36 million have been allocated by NHA for Balochistan which is 24.18 percent of the total PSDP allocation of NHA amounting to Rs 39,900.26 million.

Likewise, 38.50 percent funds are allocated for Punjab, 16.68 percent Sindh, 16.17 percent for KP and 4.46 percent for Gilgit Baltistan.

While emphasising the significance of homogenous development across the country, the minister said that equitable distribution of PSDP resources among all the provinces will go a long way in inter-provincial harmony. Commenting upon the slow pace of work on Luwari Tunnel, the federal minister said that we are determined to timely complete Luwari Tunnel. He clarified that the delay in its construction has been only due to last year’s flood, law and order situation and shortage of funds. He told that devastating floods of monsoon 2010, forced the government to divert some of the funds for rehabilitation of flood affectees and reconstruction of flood-affected areas. To accommodate flood related expenditure, the government imposed 50 percent cut on PSDP 2010-11 including the share of NHA. NHA received only Rs 18 billion out of its PSDP allocation. Consequently, NHA projects across Pakistan were impacted by the cut in PSDP due to which cash flow of the contractors got disturbed and progress on ground suffered. However, he added, we are committed to early completion of all projects. He said that NHA as per policy decision is according maximum attention to projects, which have achieved 60 percent or more progress. Once these ongoing projects are substantially completed, NHA would embark upon other planned projects for which feasibility studies, design, etc, are already in hand. staff report