The NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani while presiding over a meeting in connection with tobacco cess development on Thursday directed the authorities to spend on the same districts which produce revenue through tobacco cess, which would include construction of roads, restoration of infrastructure and well being of tobacco growers.
In all nine districts among which Swabi, Mardan, Charsada, Buner and Mansehra are worth mentioning Rs 313 million would be spent in the shape of developmental schemes this year, where the schemes would be outlined by the elected members from same districts while provincial government would offer finances.
The meeting was attended by Provincial Minister for Excise and Taxation Fazal Rabbani, Maulana Fazle Ali Haqqani, Shah Raz Khan, MPA Maulana Muhammad Idrees, Musamir Shah, Maulana Mujahid, Muhammad Shuja Khan, Amanat Shah, secretaries from finance, excise, agriculture and others. It was decided that a monetarily formed table would be drawn for proper spending of revenues collected against tobacco cess. Chief Minister said that every corner of revenue producing districts would be provided with funds for their development so that the cultivators and locals of those districts get benefited in turn.
Durrani, highlighting the exclusive step taken by their government with regard to announcing royalty for the people of income generating districts, said that "their government set a separate part for the locals from the revenues that were generated through oil, gas and electricity in areas like Karak, Kohat, Malakand, and Warsak".