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- June 4, 2024
- Kainat Shakeel
- 0
The cancellation of 91 out of 177 current development projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) by the federal government of Pakistan has raised concerns and sparked discussions about the future of public services and infrastructure in the area. The Department of Planning and Development estimated that it would cost PKR 1,361 billion to complete these projects in their entirety. Many of the abandoned projects were already 70% finished. Among the notable projects shelved are the Institute of Petroleum in Karak and the Swat Motorway Phase II. These programs were seen to be essential for improving energy and transportation education in the region. The Public Sector Development Program also excluded the Sarozai Dam in Hangu and the Institute of Child Health in Batkhela, which contained a much-needed burn facility.
Furthermore, several other water resource projects, like the enlargement of Tanda Dam, have been shelved. The Chashma Right Bank Canal Gravity Project, which had previously gotten permission from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), is among the most contentious cancellations. The Department of Planning and Development also revealed that several noteworthy projects have been left out of the PSDP, including the Engineering and Women’s University in Mardan and other road development projects. The sudden end of these projects raises concerns about the potential socioeconomic effects on nearby areas as well as the strategic direction of KP’s infrastructure development.
Local authorities and citizens have expressed their dissatisfaction, emphasizing the significance of many of these projects for the region’s stability and economy. Although the federal government’s decision is the result of larger budgetary restrictions, many KP residents feel ignored because of how suddenly these cancellations occurred.