Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday expressed satisfaction over the efficacy of the border management regime and measures taken to make sure internal security after he was briefed about various contingency plans in situ to tackle the evolving security situation along the Pak-Afghan border.
The prime minister along side Chief of the military Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited the corps headquarters, Peshawar, where he was apprised of the evolving security situation.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, Governor Shah Farman, director generals of Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence, Military Intelligence, military operations, and general officers commanding were also present.
A statement issued by the Inter-Services PR (ISPR), the media wing of the military, said the prime minister was briefed about the continued stabilization operations, fencing along with the Pak-Afghan border, and socio-economic development projects being undertaken in merged districts. The ISPR said the PM was also informed about the contingency plans to tackle the evolving security situation along the Pak-Afghan international border. “Prime Minister Imran expressed his satisfaction over the efficacy of Pakistan’s border management regime and therefore the measures being taken to make sure effective border control and internal security,” the statement added.
Merged districts
Sources said the prime minister was informed that 98 percent of work for fencing the Pak-Afghan border had already been completed, with just some portion within the Mohmand, Kurram and North Waziristan awaited to be built.
The PM was informed that the overall security situation altogether the merged districts of KP was ‘satisfactory and stable’, except North and South Waziristan also as Bajaur districts thanks to the presence of militants from Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and other outfits across the border in Afghanistan.
The sources said the PM was also apprised of the progress on filling the executive and development void within the merged districts. Besides, it had been acknowledged at the meeting that the KP was sharing the value of all development within the merged districts. At this, Mr Khan directed the federal finance ministry to resolve the difficulty of merged districts’ share within the National Finance Commission (NFC), the sources added.
For quick and cheap dispensation of justice in merged districts, Mr Khan involved employing alternative dispute mechanism in accordance with their tradition and customs.
Visit to Mughal-era villa
The PM and therefore the army chief also visited the Ali Mardan villa, a 17th century Mughal period monument conserved by the KP directorate of archaeology and museums.
During the visit, Archaeology and Museums Director Dr Abdul Samad briefed them on the history and revival of the historical monument through joint efforts of Pakistan Army and KP government.
OT inaugurated
Mr Khan also paid a visit to Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Peshawar and inaugurated the newly constructed operating theatres (OT) there.
A statement posted to the Facebook page of the hospital and research centre stated the commencement of surgical oncology services marked the completion of the third and final phase of the hospital in Peshawar.
On the occasion, Mr Khan also planted a Golden Shower tree on the hospital premises and took round of the OT and medical care unit. He lauded the efforts of the hospital management for maintaining the high standard, expressing the hope that the hospital would still provide a superb environment and opportunities for training of healthcare professionals.
Hospital CEO Dr Aasim Yusuf said patients from across the province and adjoining areas were being provided chemotherapy and radiation treatment at the health care facility. “With the inauguration of surgical services, our patients can now access all the main modalities of cancer treatment under one roof. Patients who previously had to undertake the long and physically also as financially exhausting journey to Lahore so as to possess complex cancer surgery will now be ready to receive all their cancer treatment closer to home.”
