MANSEHRA: MNA of the ruling PML-N Mohammad Sajjad Awan has said the federal government will soon begin making payments to Oghi residents, whose land has been acquired to build the Manchora dam.

`The federal government has earmarked Rs660 million funds for the Manchora Dam-affected families and will distribute them soon,` the lawmaker told reporters here on Friday.

Mr Awan said Rs550 million had also been released for the establishment of a campus of the Hazara University and Rs130 million for power schemes in different parts of Oghi tehsil.

He promised the early laying of natural gas pipelines and said the project promised development to Oghi area.

The MNA said the former PML-N government in the centre had launched project for gas supply from Mansehra to Oghi.

`This gas project will be completed shortly to benefit commercial and domestic consumers,` he said.

Mr Awan said the people`s prosperity came through mega development projects and the PML-N government would ensure it in Mansehra district.

PM`S VISIT ON MAY 26: The PML-N has claimed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is likely to announce the revival of the Mansehra airport project during the May 26 visit to the district.

PML-N Women`s Wing district president UzmaWaheed told reporters here on Friday that the prime minister would address a public meeting in Mansehra and announce the restoration of development schemes abandoned by the last PTI government.

She said the airport project was launched by the PML-N government and scrapped by the PTI government claiming that the required funds weren`t available.

Ms Uzma said the federal government had given away funds to the deputy commissioner to acquire land for the proposed airport but the last PTI government had scrapped the project.

She said the prime minister would also announce the construction of the Mansehra-Muzaffarabad Road, which was approved by the last PML-N government.

The PML-N1eader said the May 26 public meeting would be a power show by her party where women from across Hazara division would show up in large numbers. Correspondent