KP govt approves trade corridor, transmission line, solarization, several other key projects

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur chaired a high-level meeting which was attended by the Administrative Secretaries of the concerned departments and advisor to CM on Finance Muzamil Aslam, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

On the occasion, Chief Minister approved seven public welfare projects which include the provision of life insurance for the entire population of the province, the establishment of the provincial government's own Islamic Takaful insurance company, the launch of a solarization program and Tourism scheme.

The construction of DI Khan Motorway, construction of 120km long transmission line and trade corridor and establishment of debt management fund are also included in the flagship projects of the KP government. Theses projects will be completed before 2027.

After the health card scheme, the life insurance scheme will be the second major security program of the PTI government.  Under the scheme, five to one million rupees will be paid to the heirs on the death of the head of the family.

It was also decided that the provincial government will also establish an Islamic Takaful insurance company to run the health card scheme and life insurance scheme on a sustainable basis.The provincial govt will also construct Peshawar DI Khan Motorway as International Trade Corridor. This 365 km long motorway will connect 12 districts of the province and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Punjab and Balochistan.

In the meeting, the provincial government also decided to build its own transmission line. This 120 km long 220 kV transmission line will be laid from Swat to Chakdra. This transmission line will provide power to the local industries at cheap rates from the hydropower plants of the provincial government to be built in Swat and other adjoining areas. With the completion of this project, the provincial government will get an annual income of 54 billion rupees.

KP government also decided to establish a trade corridor hub in Torkham for better management and coordination of trade activities with Afghanistan and Central Asian states. For this purpose, apart from the establishment of Trade Facilitation Center in Peshawar, Peshawar Taturkham freight railway service will also be started.

The solarization scheme will be another flagship project of the provincial government. Under the scheme, apart from providing solar units to low-income households, all government buildings will be converted to solar energy. In the first phase, free solar units will be provided to 65 thousand deserving families. In the second phase, 65,000 solar units will be provided to people in easy instalments.

Under the Homestay Tourism Program, the concept of staying in homes will be introduced to tourists in remote tourist areas, the decision said. The provincial government will provide loans to people for providing residential facilities to tourists in their own premises. Another important initiative of KP Chief Minister for better management of the financial affairs of the province is the establishment of Debt Management Fund under Provincial Government. The provincial government will be the first province to establish such a fund. On the occasion, the Chief Minister said these flagship projects will be a milestone in making the province financially self-sufficient and improving the quality of life of the people. He said the aim of these projects is to ensure the social security of the people of the province and create employment opportunities by promoting commercial and tourism activities.