PM Shehbaz announces Rs 160 billion development package for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 70% for merged districts

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a Rs 160 billion development package for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with 70% of it for the merged districts (the former tribal areas) and 30% for the rest of the province, KP's information adviser Samar Haroon Bilour told ARY News after a meeting of the federal apex committee on Thursday 22 October. She said the federal government would fund it from its own resources.

Where the money goes

The rupee amounts are our arithmetic from the 70:30 split; the government has not published a project-by-project list.

Projects named so far

• Danish schools in Bajaur, Lakki Marwat and Chitral.
• A technical institute in Dera Ismail Khan.
• Police and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD): Bilour said their capacity to fight terrorism will be improved and their needs met on a priority basis.

No timeline, start dates or cost per project has been announced.

The meeting

The apex committee was attended by the prime minister, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and other officials. Bilour, attending her first apex committee meeting, said Munir briefed the meeting in detail on the threats facing the country, and that tribute was paid to the families of Bilour and federal minister Amir Muqam for their losses in the fight against terrorism.

What it means for KP families

• Parents in Bajaur, Lakki Marwat and Chitral: new Danish school campuses are planned in your districts; no admission dates have been announced.
• Young people in Dera Ismail Khan: a technical institute would add trade and diploma seats in the south of the province.
• Until the list of projects is published, there is no way to say which roads, hospitals or schools in your district are included. We will add it here when it is.