Governor Engr Shaukatullah formally launched natural gas project, costing Rs76.468 at Darra Adam Khal in F.R. Kohat on Saturday and also declared to establish an industrial estate in the area.
The 17 kilometer long main pipeline laying project for supply of natural gas on completion within next couple of months would offer 50 connections for commercial purposes besides providing 3500 domestic links to a population of about 45,000 of the area.
He also announced to expedite efforts for establishment of a grid station, besides exploring possibility for launching socio-economic uplift project in the area which also included up-gradation of a historic high school at Zarghunkhel, working since pre-partition era.
Principal Secretary to Governor Muhammad Abid Majeed, Secretary Social Sector Fata Aftab Akbar Durrani, Commissioner Kohat Sahibzada Muhammad Anis and Deputy Commissioner Kohat acting Political Agent Saadat Hassan, Ex-Federal Minister Senator Abdul Razzaq, Ex-Parliamentarians Haji Noor Sher Afridi and Haji Baz Gul Afridi were present on the occasion.
The governor also conveyed good wishes on behalf of President Asif Ali Zardari through the tribal elders of F.R. Kohat to all the tribal people of frontier regions and the tribal agencies and said that, ‘before coming to launch this first project of its nature in Fata, he had met him to discuss development programs meant for Fata in future’. Initiation of gas supply project coupled with commitment for establishment of an industrial estate in the area, he added, would lead to launch of more projects of similar nature in rest of Fata in a gradual way, he remarked.
Responding to the demands put forward by a tribal elder, Haji Noor Zaman Afridi, the governor further stated that the Fata Development Authority had already been completed feasibility study with regard to establishment of the Industrial Estate and funds would be allocated for this purpose under the ensuing Annual Development Program.
Similarly, he added, cost of the land acquired for establishment of Fata University had already been disbursed and simultaneously efforts were already underway to launch the University in a temporary building for which there was also the need that the tribal elders should cooperate with the respective authorities.
The governor declared the approval for establishment of a D-Type Hospital at Darra Adam Khel and hinted to ensure allocation of sufficient funds during the next financial year. He also took cognizance of the requests of elders from adjacent villages of Khyber Agency for provision of natural gas and desired that their demands should also be fulfilled.
Talking about the lack of drinking water facilities in Torchappar, Jawaki and Bosti Khel the governor advised the concerned authorities to explore possibilities for launching solar energy based water supply schemes and resolve the grievances of the respective people.
Earlier governor flanked by General Manager Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Haroon Khan and the tribal elders formally launched the pipeline laying projects.
