PESHAWAR: A high level meeting to review progress on implementation of New Balakot City Project was held here on Wednesday with Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan in the chair.
The meeting deliberated upon matters pertaining to implementation of said project, challenges being faced and future course of action to ensure further progress on the Balakot City Project. The meeting also deliberated upon the recommendations of committee constituted under the supervision of Commissioner Hazara Division regarding implementation of said project.
Chairman National Disaster Management Authority Lt. General Akhtar Nawaz, Provincial Minister for Labour Shaukat Yousafzai, concerned administrative secretaries, Commissioner Hazara, Deputy Commissioner Mansehra, Director General ERRA, Chief Engineer New Balakot City and others attended the meeting.
The meeting also considered different options including public private partnership and government to government models for the execution of project and it was decided that concerned provincial departments, ERRA and other concerned entities will prepare solid proposals in this regard which will be submitted to Prime Minister for final approval. The meeting also made threadbare discussion on reservations of earthquake affectees and land owners regarding Balakot City Project and the chief minister directed the entities concerned to take concrete steps so as to address the genuine reservations of people and build their confidence.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that the main motive behind the new Balakot City Project was to compensate the affectees of old Balakot City and fulfill the promises made with them. Stressing the need of consultation with land owners and affectees regarding progress on New Balakot City Project the chief minister directed the divisional and district administration to play its due role in this regard.
He said that the incumbent provincial government was committed to complete the project and provide relief to people as early as possible adding that all concerned stake holders would have to fulfill their responsibilities well in time to achieve the purpose. Meanwhile, the chief minister chaired another meeting to asses rules framed under the acts passed during the tenure of incumbent government. It was attended by the concerned administrative secretaries.
While briefing the meeting about acts passed in the tenure of incumbent provincial government, it was told that since September 2018 a total of 52 Acts have been passed adding that rules have been framed under 13 acts, rules under 29 acts are under framing while 10 acts do not need rules. The chief minister directed the authorities concerned to frame the rules, under acts which have not been framed so far, within one month time and submit them to cabinet for approval.