Shahzad Rasheed
PESHAWAR: Outgoing Mayor of Peshawar, Haji Zubair Ali, whose term has ended, said that from the time the results of the local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were announced until the completion of their tenure, the provincial government deprived the elected local representatives of powers and funds in every possible way. However, despite these difficulties, he carried out record-level work as Mayor of Peshawar and ensured public welfare and service to the people.
He said that during this entire period, the officers who created problems due to pressure from ministers and the provincial government could be forgiven, but those who deliberately acted hypocritically and wasted the time of local representatives and the people of the city would never be forgiven.
Former Governor Haji Ghulam Ali appreciated the performance of the former mayor and other elected local representatives despite the challenges and criticized the provincial government.
These views were expressed yesterday during speeches and media talks at a farewell Iftar dinner hosted by former Mayor Haji Zubair Ali and former Governor Haji Ghulam Ali. Hundreds of Neighborhood and Village Council chairmen, councillors, women councillors, minority members, and local government officers attended the ceremony.
Participants in the event paid tribute to the efforts of former Mayor Haji Zubair Ali and expressed regret that the provincial government treated elected local representatives across the province—especially in Peshawar—with a stepmother-like attitude.
Addressing the ceremony and speaking to the media, the former mayor said that, by the grace of Allah, they stand proud before Allah and the public because of their work. He added that the most productive period of public service was when a caretaker government was in place in the province, during which they carried out record projects for public welfare.
More than 650 solarization projects were completed, 12 funeral prayer grounds were built and 22 primary, middle, and secondary schools for boys and girls were constructed. 16 km of gas pipelines were installed in constituency PK-83, and 4 km pipelines in each Neighborhood and Village Council. Electric transformers were installed in every Neighborhood and Village Council. More than 75,000 young people across the city were provided free sports equipment.
The former mayor added that the provincial government treated them unfairly by creating obstacles through amendments and other means, yet they never abandoned their spirit of service. After winning the elections, they worked above party affiliations and strengthened cooperation with every elected chairman, mayor, and councilor.
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