The World Bank has identified four constraints confronting development process in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), says 'NWFP Economic Report' prepared by the international financial institution.
The first constraint it says is the distance of the province from the seaport and for the resolution of the problem the Bank has called for framing of a strategy to produce high share of raw materials that are indigenous to the province, that are light weight and high value, and can be exported to countries bordering the province.
The second constraint is the geographical location of the province due, to which it had become a front line state hosting refugees, faced Soviet war, and now is on war with terrorism.
The third is the presence of limited private sector with perception of policy uncertainty, weakness in tax administration and electricity shortages.
The fourth constraint is the lack of skilled and presence of uneducated workforce.
For the removal of the first constraint, the report has called for formation of a development strategy for sustained rapid economic growth driven by vibrant private sector. It has asked the provincial government for acceleration of improvement in the indicators of education and health, implementation of poverty alleviation policies in letter and spirit, and development and implementation of a specific development plan for the more backward areas of the province.
The provincial government has been urged to accelerate the process of privatisation of Bank of Khyber, industrial estates and allow private sector maintenance of infrastructures.
For industrial development, the report has urged for industries based on material indigenous to the province like marble, granite, construction, proper utilisation of hydel resources and tourism. In the sector of marble and granite the report has called for resolution of matters relating to mines ownership rights and provision of modern technology and infrastructure.
The World Bank report has stressed the use of urban centres to stimulate growth process to minimise co-ordination of planning and implementation for development schemes between these agencies establishing an apex agency.
For development of a land market, the report has suggested disposing of provincial and local government properties presently in use for low productive purposes or leased out on normal rents, title determining responsibility by one department, raising non-utilisation of fee on plots and eradication of gap of property tax rates between rented and owned property.
In agriculture, the report has identified lack of infrastructure, shortage of facilities, post-harvest wastage and lack of research and development as key hurdles in the development of the sector. For proper utilisation of natural resources, the bank has called for provision of incentives to communities for sustainable management of natural resources, strengthening institutional capacities and support for provincial research in natural resource management.
In delivery of public services, the bank report has identified lack of human capital, inadequate implementation of devolution, weak management of information systems and poor transport accessibility in rural areas. In this sector, the report has called for increasing local authority over recruitment and career management, devolution of administrative and fiscal powers to local governments. It said that representation of community is a better cure for low quality services from government agencies.
The report has also called for development of a provincial transport policy and strategy to improve rural population's physical access and mobility. For this purpose, the representation should also be given to private sector on Frontier Highways Authority Board and establishment of monitoring system to provide feedback to planners and decision-makers and improvement in the reliability, timelines and credibility of government monitoring systems.
In education services, the report has identified challenges like low school attendance, wide gender gap, and rural urban gap. It has called for reduction in household's cost of education by giving stipends, providing facilities to female teachers to kill gender gap effectively, engaging private sector investments and focusing government attention on underdeveloped districts.
In health services, the challenges faced by the provincial government should be overcome through vigorous immunisation campaign for 650,000 children between 12 and 23 months ages.
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