Rs 4 billion development package to usher new era in Tor Ghar district

The development package of Rs 4 billion will usher a new era of progress and development in the backward and far-flung newly announced district Tor Ghar.
District Tor Ghar with 497 square kilometres area is situated in West of district Mansehra. It has the valley of Agror in east, Tanawal in south and Buner and Battagram in West and North-East. The area known as Kala Dhaka is of 8000 feet height from sea level. The length of Tor Ghar Mountain is 25 to 30 kilometres. On the other side of River Indus, district Shangla of Malakand Division is situated.
Since the establishment of Pakistan there was only one road linking the area with other parts that was Thakot-Darband Road, which was in dilapidated conditions. Other communication links with Karkhano Dheri, district Buner to Tamanja Kot, Pitao Amazai (district Shangla)-Tamdakhel Road, Shanglay Bandi (Oghi)-Tatli Syedian Hasanzai Road, Oghi Chord Kalam-Machai Road, Ghajori (District Battagram)-Barthoni Road, Topi (Swabi)-Tataye Madakhel Road, Labori-Miran Road and Biland Kot-Sonchal Road. However, except Topi-Tataye Madakhel Road all roads are in dilapidated conditions.
The area was also lacking the basic facilities of education, health, electricity and drinking water. It also lacks agricultural land and due to the lack of awareness regarding the modern agricultural procedures, the farming is limited to only household level. The remaining misfortune of the area was filled by the devastated earthquake of October 2005.
Life in the area is very difficult, but it is rich of natural beauty, long mountainous range, thick forests, mineral resources, clean water of Indus and potentials for hydropower generation present huge opportunities for economic and social development in the area.
None of the previous governments have taken these problems and resources of Tor Ghar seriously. The provincial government for the first time not only felt the prevailing backwardness and poverty in the area, but also went a step ahead and without going through the rules and regulations given it the status of a settled district and declared Jadba its headquarters.
The people of the area for the first considered themselves as the citizens of Pakistan while the leadership of ANP further continued their gratification and announced an historic development package of Rs 4 billion to bring it at par with other districts of the province. Out of the total amount Rs 1 billion will be spent on the construction of administrative offices, residences and provision of the facilities of health, education, communications, power and drinking water to the people of the district. Similarly, 28 million rupees will be spent on the construction of tehsil headquarters in Kunder Hassanzai and Mera Madadkhel and provision of basic facilities across the district.
The provincial government is taking keen interest in the fast development of the newly established district and in first phase the work on the construction of the government offices and residences for the officials, district secretariat complex and 18-kilometer road of the 53-kilometre long Thakot-Darband have been started on emergency basis. In the district headquarters, Jadba, a big electrification scheme and medical scheme equipped with all kind of medical facilities and staff has been completed.
Under the package, 18 primary one high schools will be repaired while 22 middle schools will be reconstructed while beside the rehabilitation and repair of six basic health units (BHUs), three health centres will be up-graded to the status of rural health centres. 12 roads including the expansion and repairment of Thakot-Darband Road will be constructed and dozens of drinking water schemes will also be completed in different areas of the district.
The provincial government has initiated basic practical steps for the development of the district in their own jurisdiction, but it requires more such measures for brining change in the lives of the people stricken by tribal style life, poverty and backwardness.