PESHAWAR, Nov 28: The local bodies` elections in Peshawar Cantonment Board`s limits would be held in February 2014 and necessary arrangements were afoot, the board`s chief executive officer Mohammad Saleem Hassan Wattoo said here on Thursday.

Addressing businessmen at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he said that necessary arrangements were being made to hold the local council elections in February next year.

According to a press release, the businessmen`s leaders demanded him that traders, who were permanent residents of Peshawar Cantonment, should continue to remain members of the board till the next local bodies` elections. Replying to their demands, the official assured them of redressing their problems and continuation of development activities in the cantonment area. He said that traders would be facilitated to pay their due installments in accordance with the sixmonth timeframe mentioned under their lease agreements with the cantonment board.Mr watto said that the board would allot alternative rental properties to 52 existing rental property holders, whose properties would be razed to construct a shopping plaza in Khyber Bazaar.

The affected businessmen, he added, would be accommodated in the new building.

About the replacement of deteriorated gas supply pipes in the cantonment area, Mr Wattoo said the gas department should share its plan with the board, assuring his organisation`s cooperation.

He also assured replacement of streetlights in important bazaars in the cantonment area, removal of encroachments and improvement of electricity distribution system in the area. Bureau Report