MANSEHRA, Dec 2: Work on the Rs30 billion construction of a motorway between Hassanabdal and Kashgar (China) will begin soon, said federal Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Mohammad Yousaf on Monday.

The minister told a public meeting that the federal government had been working on various mega projects to bring revolutionary changes to the people`s lives and Hassanabdal-Kashgar Motorway was one of them.

He said the proposed project would generate massive employment opportunities for the people of Hazara division in particular andthe entire country in general and bring real prosperity to the country.

Mr Yousaf said ulema and scholars of various religious sects should sit together to foil conspiracies against Islam and Pakistan.

He said his ministry had planned to organise a conference of ulema and religious scholars from across the country during the current month to promote harmony.

The minister said the federal government had already approved introduction of Arabic in curriculum as a compulsory subject feeling it would bring positive change in the people`s mindset.

He said he had recommended tothe Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor to introduce Arabic as a compulsory subject in both public and private schools in areas under his administrative control.

Mr Yousaf said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz would extend support if a resolution on formation of Hazara province was tabled in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.

He said if the provincial assembly passed such a resolution, the PML-N government would take necessary constitutional steps in the centre for declaring Hazara a separate province.

The minister said he was confident that PML-N would sweep thecoming local body elections in the province.

ANTI-ENCROACHMENT OPERATION: The district administration has planned to destroy all permanent encroachments in the jurisdiction of Mansehra Municipal Committee and asked the local revenue department to demarcate such structures.

`Currently, we are currently removing temporary encroachments in the city, especially from roads. In the next phase, we`ll destroy all immovable encroachments on all major roads, including Karakoram Highway. Notices are being served on encroachers to remove illegalstructures voluntarily to prevent action, while the revenue department has already been asked to demarcate such encroachments, Mansehra Assistant Commissioner Dr Qasim Ali Khan told local reporters on Monday.

Dr Qasim, who was accompanied by Municipal Officer (Regulations) Amjid Iqbal, said encroachments had caused traffic mess on the roads and crackdown on them would help motorists, motorcyclists and pedestrians use roads without trouble.

`We`ll restore the beauty of this historic city, which has Ashoka rock edicts and many other tourist places,` he said.