GHALLANAI: The benefits of the mega Mohmand Hydro Power Project have started reaching the local population as a free of cost transport service for local male and female students has been initiated in the area.

The inauguration ceremony of the transport service for students was held on Wednesday which was attended by Project Director Mohmand Dam Brigadier Imtiaz, Director Maqbool Bangash, Muhammad Javed Afridi, Muhammad Tariq, Deputy Commissioner Ghulam Habib, area notables and others.

Under the free of cost transport service, 10 vehicles have been provided for all the sub-divisions of Mohmand tribal district which will provide pick and drop service to male and female students to homes and schools.

Brigadier Imtiaz said at the ceremony that work on the mega project is continuing with full swing and it will complete in stipulated time. He said the completion of the project will prove a milestone in the development of the country, particularly the development of Mohmand tribal district. He said under the project, an amount of Rs4.5 billion would be spent on different development projects in Mohmand district as benefit of the mega project. He said these projects include roads, schools, hospitals, water supply, vocational centres for women, skills centres and other schemes. He said completion of these projects will bring progress and prosperity in the area and change the lives of people.

Brigadier Imtiaz said the Rs4.5 billion funds for development projects are separate from the funds to be spent on Mohmand Dam.

The tribal elders who attended the function narrated their problems and demanded the government to take steps for resolution of these problems. They said the sense of deprivation of the local people must be addressed. They assured full cooperation to the government for completion of the project. They said they are confident that the completion of the dam project will bring an era of development in the region.

Last week, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia approved a funding of 901 million Saudi Riyals (equal to Rs34 billion) for the construction of Mohmand Dam, national media outlets reported quoting the Kingdom’s Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Bin Said Al-Maliki.