Mardan: Chief Secretary Dr. Shehzad Khan Bangash on Thursday said that projects and mega projects of public interest in Mardan division should be completed as soon as possible so that the people can benefit from their fruits.

He expressed these views while addressing the heads of concerned departments during a briefing at divisional level in the office of commissioner Mardan division.

Commissioner Mardan division Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah, Regional police officer (RPO) Mardan range Yaseen Farooq, Deputy commissioner Mardan Habibullah Arif, Deputy commissioner Swabi Sanaullah, additional deputy commissioner (ADC) Mardan Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, additional deputy commissioner (ADC) Finance Naik Muhammad Khan, assistant commissioners and heads of all departments participated in the meeting. Commissioner Mardan give a detailed briefing to the chief secretary regarding mega projects and other development projects.

Commissioner said that work on Mardan-Swabi Road is continued in full swing and would be completed soon. Besides, Pekhoor High Level Canal in Swabi is a very important project for the province which is nearing completion.

He added that with the completion of this project about 30,000 acres of land will be cultivated. Commissioner added that work on Bacha Khan medical college will also be completed soon. He added that the building covers 59 kanals of land.

He added that work on Benazir Children’s Hospital, Girls Cadet College Mardan, Mega Park Mardan is nearing completion.

Commissioner also gave a briefing on revenue cases, land acquisition cases, ehsas ration program, PMRU Program, Code 19 Vaccination Target, and local body elections 2021. Addressing the meeting, Chief Secretary Shehzad Khan Bangash said that funds have been released to all the officers and departments.

Earlier, Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa visited the ruins of Takhtbhai Archaeological site. On this occasion, he said that the present government is taking far-reaching measures to preserve the antiquities and increase the interest of foreign and local tourists in it. More facilities and conveniences will be created for tourists in the historical ruins. On this occasion, Director General Archeology Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Dr. Abul Samad Khan, Commissioner Mardan division Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah, additional commissioner Mardan Naeem Akhtar, deputy commissioner Mardan Habibullah Arif, deputy commissioner Swabi Sanaullah Khan, RPO Mardan range Yasin Farooq and other senior officials were also present. On the occasion, Director General Archeology Dr. Abdul Samad Khan gave a detailed briefing to the delegation about the historical monuments.

Chief Secretary said that the ruins of Takhtbhai are of international renown and have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This has made it even more important. The present government has taken important and revolutionary steps for the promotion of tourism as tourism has become an international industry. He added that it will increase the sources of income of the country. “Therefore, not a minute will be spared for the protection of historical heritage”, he added.