PESHAWAR, Oct 22: NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah on Monday said that the government would continue to focus on value-added education, making the service delivery system efficient and widening the base of the private sector to create more job opportunities.

“Lack of education, unemployment and ills in the social strata and ineffective social activity are some of the factors creating law and order situation,” he remarked.

Speaking at a meeting held here to discuss private sector’s investment in the Hangu district, the governor called upon overseas Pakistanis to supplement the government’s efforts to produce skilled manpower as, he said, radical steps had been taken to remove the bottlenecks hindering the revival of economic activity.

“We would provide a congenial environment to the entrepreneurs to exploit the natural resources the province offers for the improvement of economy of the province,” he said.

The meeting was attended by provincial minister Owais Ahmad Ghani, district Nazim, high-ranking officials and Dr Rafique Jan, a philanthropist, according to a statement.

He said that the government’s efforts were directed to enhance the skills of manpower and enable them to compete in the international market.

The government has taken preliminary steps to redirect industrialization process, he said, adding that under the shift in policy, the private sector would be encouraged to play its role in the new scheme of things.

He assured that the cooperation and assistance of the government would be at the beck and call of the private sector, saying it would provide necessary infrastructure, such as land, electricity and water.