DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Provincial Revenue Minister, Ali Ameen Gandapur has said that "patwari culture" still existed in other provinces whereas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the culture would soon be abolished with introduction of new computerized system.

Talking to journalists after visiting Dera Press Club here, he further said that PTI government would not adopt lame excuses as people have voted them for practical work adding we will not let our voters down.

He said for the first time local bodies elections would be held under biometric system in Khyber Pakhtunkhwas to have transparent and fair results. The PTI government was serious in devolving the powers through local bodies system so as the projects initiated on local level could be completed in time and with standard.

Regarding elimination of corruption from the province, Gandapur said a process of bringing reforms in police and other departments was swiftly underway that would surly bring positive and people-friendly changes in these departments.

The Town Hall in DI Khan would be converted into Family Park while River Indus from Dhapyanwala to Thoya Fazal would be widened to 24 feet with an estimated cost of 600 million rupees which have already been released.

To a query about renaming tehsil Kulachi after Israr Shaheed, the minister said the government has no objection on it but there were so many martyrs in our province and if this trend was encouraged then every city and tehsil might be renamed which won't be possible.

He was confident that the gigantic development activities initiated in DI Khan would change the diagram of this district within three months and people would definitely feel a pleasant change. The Rs 500 million sewerage system up gradation project would solve the long-standing sewer related problems of this district. Work on recreational safari park on the banks of River Indus was underway and the project would hopefully complete before summer seasons that would be a gift for DI Khan people from PTI government.

He said a process to computerize the record of Revenue Department was underway that would help eliminate the possibility of corruption from the department. He said the government has received funds of Rs 40 million for each union council of the district to initiate development activities. Under SADP, he said a special package for Ratta Kulachi and Shorkot has also been approved adding that a zoo will also be constructed for the people of DI Khan.

He said, as promised by him he will not obtain a gas connection for his own house up till each and every house of his constituency get the connection adding he was firmly standing by his promise. An application for 50,000 new gas meters has been forwarded; he said and added that hopefully the same would soon be obtained.

Gandapur further informed that an approval for 40 Kanal of land by the Irrigation Department has been given for establishment of Dera Educational Board while at the end of the current month a workshop would be established for repair of faulty electricity transformers. The number of doctors in hospitals would further be enhanced.

The Minster on this occasion also announced laptops for ten journalists of Dera Press Club.

Earlier, President Dera Press Club Ramzan Seemab welcomed the minister on his arrival and briefed him about matters pertaining to the Club.

SOURCE: APP