PESHAWAR(National Times)- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Tuesday voiced concern and displeasure over a delay in the Karak Salt and Gypsum City project and instructed authorities to demonstrate “visible progress” on the project within the next three months.
He issued instructions during a meeting called here to assess progress on the Annual Development Programme (ADP), law and order, governance, public service delivery and development priorities for the upcoming fiscal year regarding the Kohat Division, according to an official statement.
The chief minister observed that the Karak Salt and Gypsum City project carried significant strategic importance for the province, with substantial potential to enhance provincial revenues while generating employment opportunities for local communities.
He also announced the formal commencement of divisional performance review meetings following the approval of the provincial budget.
Mr Afridi said the initiative was meant to ensure effective implementation of the government’s priorities, timely completion of development projects and measurable improvements in public service delivery across the province.
“The true measure of governance is not the quality of presentations but the confidence and satisfaction of our citizens,” he said.
The chief minister directed all departments to make public trust and tangible service delivery outcomes their foremost priority.
Highlighting the government’s strategic priorities, he said the prevailing security challenges in southern districts required sustained attention and a coordinated institutional response.
Mr Afridi also directed administrative officers to maintain regular engagement with citizens, discourage bureaucratic practices that created barriers to public access, and transform government offices into responsive centers of public service.
He also ordered the early operationalisation of development schemes nearing completion to the people’s benefit.
Emphasising the need to address long-standing challenges in southern districts, the chief minister called for immediate progress on practical and sustainable solutions to ensure the supply of safe drinking water to residents.
Reaffirming the government’s zero-tolerance policy against sexual violence, he directed authorities to ensure that perpetrators of rape are prosecuted without exception and brought to justice.
Mr Afridi also ordered an intensified crackdown against narcotics networks, describing drug abuse as a serious social menace, and instructed the relevant departments to implement comprehensive rehabilitation measures for drug-dependent individuals to facilitate their reintegration into society.
He also instructed district administrations to ensure the regular participation of elected public representatives in open public forums and citizen engagement initiatives to strengthen coordination in addressing local issues.
Reviewing the health sector, the chief minister directed authorities to accelerate implementation of the District Headquarters Hospitals Revamping Programme.
Taking serious notice of staff absenteeism at a hospital in Hangu, he ordered immediate action against those responsible, saying negligence in institutions directly linked to public health and human life will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
He also sought a comprehensive list of all major pending public sector projects across the province and said the schemes with the greatest public impact should be completed on a priority basis.
