AMJAD ALI SHAH

PESHAWAR: A few days after his released by Peshawar High Court on bail, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) dissident provincial legislator, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) erstwhile provincial minister for mines and minerals, Ziaullah Afridi, has criticized his party-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for failure to launch any single mega development project, except construction of a Hayatabad flyover in provincial capital.

Instead of execution of the earlier planned community-driven and inter-city beautification projects, Afridi has blamed that the provincial government has shifted its focus from Peshawar to Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, and Dir, by diverting funds to these districts. He disclosed that these districts also gets lion share in provincial Annual Development Programme, by depriving Peshawar.

He told a crowded news conference, accompanied by his followers and supporters, at press club here on Wednesday, during which he announced a movement for uplift of Peshawar.

Despite the announcement of schemes for Peshawar, such as Bachat Bazaar, car village, and safe city, he said the projects are still in papers, and yet to be implemented as per plan. He further said that the PTI-led provincial government is going to initiate metro bus project with financial assistance of Asian Development Bank, against its manifesto.

“If Khattak-led government is interested in the Metro project it should cut development funds allocated in ADP for Nowshera, Mardan, Dir and Swabi and spend it on establishment of this important project. He said the conditions of inter-city roads were dilapidated and required immediate reconstruction.

Despite having 10 elected members of provincial assembly (MPAs) from Peshawar, besides election of PTI chairman Imran Khan on NA seat in last general elections, he said the city has completely been ignored and deprived of development funds during last three and half years.

The PTI dissident leader mentioned that only Rs 4 billion was being spent on erecting of protection walls and embankment of River Kabul in district Nowshera, while the residents of Peshawar were deprived of development since long.

He said that Rs 14 billion funds allocated by USAID for municipal service programs but unfortunately less than Rs 1 billion have been utilized by the Khattak-led KP government, which depicts its inability for judicious utilization of the funds for people’s welfare. He went on to say that certain elements in the party has misled Imran Khan by giving him false briefings regarding development projects and funds spending in Peshawar.

Keeping in view prevailing circumstances, Ziaullah Afridi announced said he is going to launch a movement “Tameer-e-Peshawar” from today, and sought the cooperation of all segments of society for making the campaign successful at all level. He asked the elected representatives of local government to make vigorous efforts for attaining of due rights and share in development funds for Peshawar.