PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that provincial government has planned to sign an agreement with Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) for setting up an oil refinery in Karak district.

According to a statement issued here on Monday, the chief minister said that government wanted to initiate some projects in the sectors of hydel power generation, housing and industries in the province.

The projects in housing sector include Peshawar model housing scheme, housing scheme near motorway and Hangu housing project. Four hydropower projects including three in Chitral and one in Balakot and establishment of industrial hubs and economic zones under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor pro-ject had already been planned, the statement said.

The chief minister agreed to the proposal that strategic storage normally occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Northern Punjab necessitated establishment of oil refinery in Karak that would ensure national security. It was also important from social perspective and there would be no chances of fuel shortage in the entire belt, he added.

The chief minister asked the quarters concerned to finalise formalities for inking agreement with FWO. He called upon the officials of energy sector to expedite land acquisition for the purpose and finalise all formalities without wasting time so that an agreement could be signed with FWO for the projects in hydel power sector.The chief minister also directed the of ficials to finalise all formalities so that a cement project could be launched in Sarikot, Haripur. A decision in this regard could be taken on July 30.

Mr Khattak also offered three projects in housing sector to FWO that included Peshawar model town, a township near motorway and Hangu township. The FWO was willing to execute those projects, the statement said.

The chief minister said his government gave a direction to development and progress of the province. `We want this province to make progress by leaps and bounds. The government officials should pull their sleeves for a more hectic job ahead. The government would malce legislation for the benefit of its people and province, he added. Bureau Report