CM orders master plan for Peshawar

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has directed to prepare a comprehensive master plan to resolve all the issues of Peshawar district directing that the representatives of business community,

civil society and elected public representatives should also be involved in this regard.

He said this while presiding over a meeting to discuss issues facing the provincial capital, said an official handout. Senior Minister for local government Shahram Khan Tarakai, Finance Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Special Assistant to CM on Elementary and Secondary Education Ziaullah Bangash, Special Assistant to chief minister on IT Kamran Bangash, MPAs of Peshawar and other officials attended the meeting.

The meeting was briefed about the overall traffic congestion in Peshawar city, infrastructure, provision of service delivery, governance, identification and development of recreational and entertainment spots, cleanliness and greenery in Peshawar, availability of parking space and development of neighbourhoods in Peshawar.

The chief minister stressed the resolution of all the issues of Peshawar on a sustainable basis and instructed the speedy finalisation of the master plan.

Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said the Peshawar city would be developed in its true sense.

“The beautification and development of Peshawar is the top priority of the provincial government,” he added.

The chief minister revealed that 100 spots would be identified where mega parks would be developed adding that 45 such places have already been identified.

Mahmood Khan said that accelerated implementation of the master plan would be ensured to resolve the issues of traffic in Peshawar.

The beauty of Peshawar city would soon be restored.

Chief Minister Mahmood Khan directed to initiate concrete steps for the clean and green Peshawar under the clean and green drive vision of Prime Minister Pakistan.

He stated that all types of encroachments would be dealt with an iron hand. He said that administrative issues of Peshawar Development Authority and Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar would be resolved and their performance would be made more efficient.

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has given approval for establishing sub-jails in the seven merged districts by upgrading the existing 15 lock-ups.

Sources said the chief minister approved the summary sent to him by the provincial Home Department, which would upgrade 15 lock-ups to sub-jails in the tribal districts that have been merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The sources said two lock-ups each would be upgraded to sub-jails in North Waziristan, South Waziristan and Orakzai along with another three in Khyber district.

In South Waziristan the lock-up in Wana and in North Waziristan the lock-ups in Miranshah and Mir Ali would be upgraded to sub-jails.

Two lock-ups each in Kurram, Mohmand and Bajaur districts would also be upgraded.

The sources said that in Khyber district the three lock-ups would be upgraded to sub-jails in Jamrud, Bara and Landikotal.

In Kurram, the two existing lock-ups in Sadda and Parachinar would be upgraded.

In Mohmand district, the lock-up in Ghallanai would be upgraded along with Nawagai and Khar in Bajaur.

After upgrading the lock-ups to sub-jails, the courts would now send warrants to the superintendent of prisons for follow-up. The responsibility of the security to the sub-jails would be assigned to the Levies force.

The sources said that the upgradation of lock-ups to sub-jails in the former tribal areas would be taken up in next meeting of the provincial cabinet.

Talking to reporters, Inspector General of Prisons Masoodur Rehman said that after the approval of the summary the sub-jails would come under the control of the Prison Department.

He said the Prison Department would renovate the sub-jails, introduce the system prevalent in rest of the jails in the province and improve the quality of food at the prisons. He said the prisoners would be provided medical facilities.