The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has allegedly refused to release Rs. 1 billion for the development of New Balakot Housing Project aimed at the rehabilitation of October 8, 2005 earthquake survivors.
The Supreme Court had ordered the chief secretary to pay Rs. 1 billion for the development of the residential project. The apex court also formed a committee to remove the hurdles faced in the development of the project.
However, one member of the committee, Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi, said that the chief secretary, heading the body is not sincere to build the housing society and is creating hurdles in the completion of the project.
“If money is not released to Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority in the light of apex court judgment, I will again move the apex court seeking contempt proceedings against the chief secretary,” says Qureshi.
He said that for the first time, former chief justice Saqib Nisar visited Balakot and met the earthquake survivors in the shelter homes.
The rehabilitation of earthquake survivors and the construction of New Balakot City has been facing delays for several months. Several members of SC-formed committee have raised the issue time and again but to no avail.
Qureshi also informed that under the top court’s verdict, the work on girls’ degree college in Balakot has completed recently and 28 lecturers and professors have also been appointed.