ISLAMABAD, Aug 24 (ABC): Five social-sector schemes covering health, education, agriculture and veterinary services have been completed under the Saudi-funded Malakand Infrastructure Programme in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while work is progressing on a strategic 26-kilometre road in Chitral district.
According to documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) is financing the programme to develop and rehabilitate infrastructure in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The five completed schemes include rehabilitation of the Agriculture Research Institute in Swat and construction of educational facilities for special children.
The programme has also completed the upgradation of a basic health unit to a Category-D hospital, construction of a thalassaemia department and rehabilitation of a veterinary research facility.
Agriculture, education schemes completed in Swat
The Agriculture Research Institute in Swat has achieved 100% physical progress. The scheme had an approved cost of Rs191.95 million, while expenditure reached Rs189.67 million.
Construction of a Special Children School and a Special Children Teacher Training School in Swat has also been completed.
The educational scheme carried an approved cost of Rs217.55 million. The documents show expenditure of Rs214.44 million.
The programme has also completed rehabilitation of the Veterinary Research Centre in Swat.
The scheme had an approved cost of Rs154.09 million, against which expenditure stood at Rs130.15 million.
Health facilities completed in Lower Dir, Malakand
In Lower Dir, authorities have completed the upgradation of the Basic Health Unit Hayasari to a Category-D hospital.
The project had an approved cost of Rs627.57 million, making it the largest of the five completed social-sector schemes. Expenditure reached Rs584.58 million.
Another healthcare intervention involved construction of a thalassaemia department at the District Headquarters Hospital in Batkhela, Malakand.
The facility has achieved 100% physical progress. Its approved cost stood at Rs144.35 million, while expenditure reached Rs135.64 million.
Consultancy services for the five social-sector schemes have also been completed.
The consultancy component had an approved cost of Rs58.89 million. Expenditure on the component stood at Rs55.79 million.
Work progresses on Chitral road
Apart from the completed social-sector schemes, the Malakand Infrastructure Programme includes construction of the 26-kilometre Arandu-Kalkatak/Lowari Road in Chitral district.
The road project has an approved cost of Rs2.906 billion. According to the documents, expenditure has so far reached Rs391.121 million.
The joint survey for the road has been completed, while cross-section plotting is underway.
Construction teams are also carrying out site and bed cutting. Procurement of construction materials and quarry testing are in progress.
The Saudi-funded programme combines investment in health, education, agriculture and veterinary services with improved road connectivity in the Malakand region.
