PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Finance Department has stopped funds for 21 important projects of the Local Government Department, seeking provision of technical approval and refurbished PC-1 for these projects.
According to sources in the Finance Department, the projects include Governance and Community Development Program, improvement of infrastructure in development authorities, construction of tehsil complexes, electricity supply, special package for Tank district, development scheme for Mansehra, District Development Initiatives, Awareness and Publicity, Construction of Public Park in Swabi, Reforms Initiatives in Local Government Department, the Construction of Ring Road’s Northern Section, uplift of Regi Model Town, Development Initiatives for Rijar area in Swabi and Worsk Gravity Canal.
Similarly, funds for the rehabilitation of the road around the Peshawar city, the Ring Road Lower Section, Nasir Bagh Road, Bus Terminals in Mardan, Swat, Upper Dir and Swabi, the rehabilitation of Peshawar’s Shahi Katha and the rehabilitation of Sheikh Maltoon Town Mardan have also been withheld.
According to sources in the finance department, the finance department has released funds for the above mentioned projects, but now the local government department will not be allowed to utilise it. Sources in KP Finance Department said that the local government has been asked to provide PC-1 and technical approval of these projects, after which the department will be allowed to use the funds.
When contacted, Provincial Minister of Local Government Faisal Amin Gandapur said that PC-1 of these projects are being revised due to rise in fuel prices. He said that the rate of contact amount have to be increased for the contractors due to rise in petrol prices. Gandapur said that the saving of the project was available with the government, therefore, there will be no need for extra funding for these projects. The minister added that these projects were for two years, but now they will take some extra time in completion.
