A high-level meeting here on Saturday approved projects in irrigation, drinking water, hydropower, minerals, emergency flood protection, education, health, communication, tourism, industries, livestock, sports, museums, computerisation of various departments, disposal of solid waste and urban development sector. The meeting also debated mid-term development framework (2005-10) Chief Minister NWFP Akram Khan Durrani chaired the meeting while Deputy Chairman Planning Commission (PC) Akram Sheikh along with high ups of Planning Commission, Senior Minister Siraj-ul-Haq, Chief Secretary Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi, Additional Chief Secretary Mir Liaq Shah and administrative secretaries attended.
The planning commission agreed to clear schemes in water supply and sanitation sectors. The chief minister said that his government was endeavouring to provide drinking water facilities to all in Frontier province that was their basic right. He said his government has recently announced industrial policy giving maximum incentives to the potential investors that would bring the flow of investment and hopefully it would lead to rapid growth and poverty reduction in the province.
The deputy chairman planning commission assured that there would be no obstacles in the smooth development of the province. The commission would clear projects that were essential for the development of the province. He assured that Frontier province would get its share in the national development strategy.
The chief minister called for the provision of Rs 25.399 billion for the Chashma Lift Irrigation Scheme, Rs 4.634 billion for Tank Zam, Rs 3.6 billion for 20 small dams, Rs 1.6 billion for Bazai Irrigation Scheme, Rs 500 million for Tochi, Rs 197 million for Palai and Rs 94 million for Sanum Dam.
He said that his government was for these projects because presently province lacks the capacity to utilise its water share because of lack of necessary infrastructure. These projects, he hoped would bring green revolution in the agriculture sector development adding that these schemes should be taken as the real poverty alleviation schemes. The planning commission cleared them and assured to fully support the Frontier case.
The deputy chairman planning commission advised the provincial government to evolve a power policy taking the Wapda and the private sectors along that. It would settle the investors' apprehension of sovereign guarantee for the protection of their investment. The public sector is inefficient and with the private sector partnership, the system would get efficient.
The chief minister agreed to the advice and assured to evolve such a mechanism for the benefit of Frontier province. The deputy chairman also agreed to the proposal of the provincial government to have some sort of edge over reduction in wheeling charges of electricity and assured to support the Frontier government in this regard.
The federal and provincial governments came out with unanimous approach for rapid industrialisation in Frontier province.
The deputy chairman planning commission expressed the hope that NWFP would stay as an ideal location for industrialisation particularly in areas where the raw materials were in abundance. The federal government would provide technological and allied support. Akram Sheikh also agreed to plan projects to protect areas exposed to flood because of recent heavy rain and snow falls. He further agreed to support Nowshera Hospital, Peshawar Institute of Cardiology, Cadet colleges and educational reforms to enhance literacy rate in the province. It would support Women University and assured to plan science classes in the intermediate level. The deputy chairman assured that Frontier province would get its due share from the higher education commission.
The chief minister said that Frontier government had handed over Nowshera to Chitral (N-45) to National Highway Authority but complained that the NHA not only failed to provide Rs 280 million to provincial government as borne out by it but there was a slow pace of work. The people sometime block the road and create law and order situation. He further complained that the construction work on Lowari Tunnel was slow and the allocated money ie Rs one billion might lapse.
The chief minister asked to release Rs 600 million for the extension of natural gas to six southern districts to which the commission agreed to support. The deputy chairman assured that education, health, drinking water and services in social sectors would get priority. The federal and provincial governments wished long term planning for sustainable development. The planning commission would ensure resources for development of social services sectors.
The commission assured to support industrial and mineral plans and necessary infrastructure for the purpose. However, the deputy chairman suggested holding exhibitions of gem, marble and other products so that the natural resources of Frontier province offering unmatched dividend could be demonstrated for attracting mass scale investment. The commission would support investigative studies in these sectors. The commission agreed for provincial government's involvement in the federal government projects initiated in Frontier province. It would support tea and cotton cultivation and promotion of livestock.
The deputy chairman asked the provincial government to prepare a plan for tourism promotion. The federal ministry and the Frontier government would then give a presentation to the Prime Minister for decisions that would promote tourism in the province.
The chief minister also told the meeting about the provincial government efforts for the protection of heritage and opening up of five new museums in the province adding that his government wishes to protect the heritage and directed the department to ensure that antiques were displayed in the museums.
The commission agreed to establish 24 computer centres for improving the skill of women and women hostel in Peshawar and also agreed for urban development. It also included Peshawar Airport in the plan. The commission has already included eight (8) environmental and forests related projects in its mid term development framework. The commission agreed to focus on plans for contaminated water and solid waste in Peshawar, Mingora and Dera and added that there was a standing committee that would plan the rapid development and improved services in Peshawar, Karachi, Lahore and Quetta.
The chief minister said that the Prime Minister has already appreciated the environmental plan of Frontier province. The commission agreed to make a combined move for preparing concept paper for improved infrastructure and services in the tourism potential areas.
The chief minister appreciated that the planning commission visiting the provinces was a new style that would resolve the grievances. However, we should sit together after three months to know the pace of work on the decisions made. His government announced industrial policy and took a number of positive steps to mitigate the suffering of poor. It has initiated a plan to establish A-grade hospitals in all the districts. There should be no hindrance in the service of the people. He said that there would be minimum problems if the planning commission planned judicial distribution of resources. We have to work for the interest of the people and we have to fight our rights otherwise we would fail to represent the people adding that Chashma Lift Canal, Tank Zam and 20 small dams were the life veins of the agriculture sector development. Hopefully these projects would lead us to self-sufficiency in agriculture sector. It would reduce poverty and generate jobs for the jobless.
The chief minister said that his government intends to move for the promotion of tourism, therefore, we need to lay down necessary infrastructure. His government wanted to extend natural gas to forest growing areas such as Galyat, Swat, Dir, Chitral and Abbottabad etc then we would protect our forests and reduce environmental hazard. He said that a direct natural gas pipeline costing Rs 350 million has been planned that would eliminate gas load shedding. He said that there were nine sites for gas discoveries and that would be more than frontier requirements.
Durrani said that his government wishes the federal government to give the province its share. He regretted that nobody including the federal government came to the rescue of the rainfall, snowfall and flood victims. The provincial government was in the lurch however it by itself covered relief measures and gave compensation to the damages and human lives.
He regretted the federal government yet to notify the Rs two billion increase in the net hydel profit raising it from Rs six billion to Rs eight billion as announced by the former Prime Minister of Pakistan. He hoped that the open-minded approach of the planning commission would remove the widening schism between the developed and backward provinces that would bring strength to the federation, he added.
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