CM alleges parties ruling centre trying to protect their illegal wealth.

MALAKAND/LOWER DIR -- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Thursday performed groundbreaking of development projects worth billions of rupees and inaugurated newly-completed schemes in Malakand and Lower Dir districts.

During those ceremonies, the chief minister said the country was ruled by a 'selected and imported' political group, which had nothing to do with the development of the country and its people and was there to protect its ill-gotten wealth.

'These political goons, who looted the exchequer in the past, have come to power this time around through a conspiracy hatched against the democratically-elected PTI government just to ensure elimination of corruption cases against them and protection of their wealth obtained by illegal means and practices,' he told a Malakand function.

He performed the groundbreaking of Swat Motorway Phase-II at Pull Chowki near Chakdara Interchange.

Performs groundbreaking of mega projects in Malakand, Dir

The proposed 88km motorway will be built from Chakdara to Fatehpur at the estimated cost of Rs36.404 billion. It will have four lanes extendable to six, while nine interchanges and eight river bridges will constructed under the project.

Mr Mahmood said the project would ensure sustainable development of the area.

He also performed the groundbreaking of the Rs1.212 billion Burns and Trauma Centre, Thalassaemia Centre and Cardiology Unit at the District Headquarters Hospital, Batkhela.

The chief minister said the projects would ensure better patient care in the region and help reduce burden on tertiary care hospitals of the province.

He also laid the foundation stone of the Government Degree College and a public library in Batkhela.

Earlier, Mr Mahmood laid the foundation stone of the Sanam Dam in Asbanr area of Lower Dir district. The Rs2 billion project is likely to cultivate 2,150 acres of land. The chief minister said those projects would ensure food security in the province.

He also inaugurated the newly-established Chakdara Bypass Road and Special Education Complex, Chakdara, whose execution cost Rs540 million.

Mr Mahmood also performed the groundbreaking of a public park in Chakdara, a...