PESHAWAR: In an effort to create maximum employment opportunities in the Newly Merged Districts (NMDs), an amount of Rs 1100 million has been allocated under the Insaf Rozgar Scheme during the current financial year for provision of loans to the people of the NMDs, and so far 90 percent of the loans have been disbursed; and cent percent disbursement of the loans will be ensured by the end of this financial year.

This was revealed at a meeting held here on Tuesday with Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan in the chair. The meeting reviewed the progress so far made on various projects of Industries, Commerce and Technical Education Department launched in the NMDs under the Accelerated Implementation Program (AIP).

The meeting was informed that so far 3,936 individuals of the NMDs had been provided loans under Insaf Rozgar Scheme. Similarly, another scheme worth Rs 1100 million has also been launched for the provision of interest free loans for the development of entrepreneurship in the NMDs, it was informed, adding that progress on the implementation of the scheme was as per the given timelines and it would be completed by the year 2022.

The meeting was further informed that a scheme for provision of scholarships to the youth of NMDs for skill development training had also been submitted to the competent forum for formal approval, under which more than 15,000 youth would be provided scholarships.

Regarding the proposed projects to be included in the AIP of upcoming financial year, it was told that eight schemes had been proposed under KP Technical Education & Vocational Training Authority that include establishment of Poly Technique Institutes in District Mohmand and District North Waziristan, provision of transport facility, clean drinking water, machinery and equipments to Technical Educational Institutes of NMDs, construction of buildings for 10 Technical & Vocational Training Centres etc.

Similarly, under the Small Industries Development Board (SIDB), projects for the establishment of Small Industrial Estates at Dara Adam Khel and Bajur have also been proposed.

The forum was also told that schemes for the establishment of Mohmand Marble City and Special Economic Zone in District Khyber have been proposed under KP Economic Zone Development & Management Company.-PR