KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has decided to scrap his plans to construct a swimming pool in his official Peshawar residence following a public backlash.

An advertisement published recently in different newspapers inviting tenders for a swimming pool in CM House Peshawar, at an estimated cost of Rs18.528 million, had drawn fire from the public and media alike.

The outrage appears to have led the CM House to announce the cancellation of the project.

?The Chief Minister after becoming aware of the politicisation of the project by political opponents has decided to cancel the construction of the swimming pool,? the CM House issued a statement on Thursday.

The tender advertisement, published by the KP Communication and Works department, had gone viral on social media as many criticised Khattak and his provincial government for spending millions on a swimming pool at a time when Peshawar faces a severe dengue outbreak which has prompted authorities to declare a health emergency in the province.