-Expresses solidarity with the families of martyrs
-Reaffirms resolve to curb militancy, terrorism
-Inaugurates Institute of Cardiology, sports complex in Peshawar
-Directs KP Govt to extend KJP to merged areas
Bureau Report
PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Wednesday the 2014 Army Public School (APS) Peshawar attack united the nation to fight terrorism together.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the newly built Institute of Cardiology shortly after arrival in Peshawar on a day-long visit, he expressed solidarity with the families of those martyred in the terrorist attack.
“December 16 is a day in Pakistan’s history that united the nation,” Prime Minister Imran Khan said, adding the entire nation united and defeated the scourge of terrorism. Felicitating the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on completion of the construction work of the institute, he said the area previously had no cardiac hospital.
He said the government built the facility in with limited resources amid the pandemic. It seems people from Afghanistan will come here for treatment given better healthcare facilities being provided in the province, the prime minister said and lauded the provincial government’s health card initiative.
PM Imran Khan underscored that if a member of a poor family falls sick the entire household falls below the poverty line, slamming past rulers for caring two hoots about the poor and travelling abroad for their own treatment. He said providing the poor better treatment facilities is a first step towards making Pakistan a Madina-like state.
Speaking to the media here, he revealed the government has decided to hold the polls through show of hands instead of a secret ballot to bring an end to the practice of horse-trading and added it is going to approach the Supreme Court to seek its opinion on the proposed changes in the voting procedure. Prime Minister Imran Khan said that money was used to buy votes in the Senate polls in the past, recalling he expelled 20 PTI members of provincial assemblies after they were found to be involved in horse-trading. “We believe in transparent elections,” he declared. The polls will be held for 52 seats of the upper house of Parliament as many members of the 104-member Senate are retiring on March 11.
Talking about the 11-party opposition PDM alliance, the prime minister said: “I had said on day one that all thieves will band together. Today, they have united under the name of the PDM.” He said opposition leaders questioned when had they asked him for an NRO-like deal. “They asked for NRO in writing on the NAB issue. The amendments they put forth meant burying NAB.” Prime Minister reiterated that he won’t give the opposition an NRO at any cost, adding the corruption cases opposition leaders face were instituted in the past and not by his government. “There is no threat to our government from the opposition, nor is there any kind of pressure on me,” he cleared.
PM also directed improving internet and mobile network’s coverage in merged tribal districts for benefits of tribal people. The Prime Minister passed these directives while chairing a high-level meeting of the KP cabinet here today. Governor KP Shah Farman and Chief Minister Mahmood Khan were also present on the occasion. The Prime Minister also directed the KP Government to take more steps for promotion of tourism to generate employment opportunities and enhance the province’s revenues. Prime Minister Imran Khan said people’s have high expectations from PTI Government and directed provincial ministers and members provincial assembly to frequently visit to their respective constituencies to monitor development projects on ground and address people’s problems at their doorsteps.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday inaugurated Rs. 994 million Hayatabad Sports Complex expansion project to develop it as per the international quality and standards of International Cricket Council.
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan, Provincial Health Minister, Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Dr. Kazim Niaz, Secretary Sports Abid Majeed, Additional Secretary Sports Junaid Khan, DG Sports Asfandyar Khan Khattak and other senior officials, accompanied the premier.
Provincial Secretary Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Abid Majeed while briefing about the project said the international standard Cricket Stadium of Hayatabad Sports Complex would be completed by June 2021 that would offer all the facilities including main pavilion, general stands and digital score board as per International Cricket Council standards. Fitness gym and all-weather international standard swimming pools are also parts of Hayatabad Sports Complex project. The project is also underway to provide indoor sports facilities for women athletes at a cost of Rs 100 million and to be completed in December 2021.
Similarly, playgrounds have been constructed in 66 Tehsils have already been completed while work on 10 other playgrounds in underway in 10 others. 50 playgrounds have been constructed in 50 Union Councils and projects are underway in 209 Union Councils.
He said that monthly scholarships are being given to medal winners of the 33rd National Games and grant has been allocated to ensure sports scholarship to the medal winners of the U21 Games soon after completion of the second phase to be organized at District level.
Secretary Sports Abid Majeed said on the occasion that the construction work on Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium in Peshawar will be completed by November 2021 and the project will cost Rs 1377 million. He said KP has taken lead by establishing nine Astroturf hockey grounds out of the total 13. These included Lala Ayub Hockey Stadium, Peshawar Sports Complex, Mardan Sports Complex, Bannu Sports Complex along with historical Islamia College Peshawar, Charsadda Sports Complex, Kohat Sports Complex, Dera Ismail Khan Sports Complex and Abbottabad Astroturf hockey complex.
He said that four international standard squash courts have also been constructed in Peshawar Sports Complex while ten more squash courts are being constructed in different educational institutions.
