PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that development budget of the merged tribal areas has been doubled since 2018, as uplift of those areas is among the priorities of his government.
The prime minister told the ruling party lawmakers at a meeting held at Governor House on Monday that the government increased the development budget from Rs24 billion in 2018 to Rs54bn this year.
Mr Khan expressed these views during his daylong visit to Peshawar where he addressed Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) members of the national and Pakhtunkhwa assemblies, according to a statement issued here.
In the meeting that lasted more than an hour, the premier said the development of merged areas was one of his government’s foremost priorities. He informed the party legislators that projects had already been identified for promotion of tourism in KP and that soon work for development of those tourist sites would be started.
About increase in inflation in the country, Mr Khan said his government was taking steps to save public from its impact, explaining that the inflation had increased due to rising global prices of commodities. Counting the steps to mitigate its effect on public, he said the government introduced health cards and ration cards. He also termed an improvement in the education sector another ‘milestone’ of the government towards making the country a welfare state.
On the occasion, Mr Khan was also briefed about major ongoing projects of public welfare. The lawmakers shared with the premier the issues faced by public in their constituencies as well as party matters.
The premier was also apprised of the Rs20 billion plan to improve power supply in the province. He was informed about the strategy of off-grid solutions for provision of affordable electricity. In this regard, it was said, small micro-hydel projects were being initiated in areas far from transmission lines.
Mr Khan was briefed about progress on Chashma Right Bank Canal project, Rashakai industrial zone and special technology zones. He directed the officials concerned to ensure timely completion of the public importance projects.
The PM also held meetings with KP Governor Shah Farman and Chief Minister Mahmood Khan but the government shared little details, while the media was not allowed to cover the event.