MANSEHRA, Nov 26: The federal government will soon set up a tea board to promote the production of tea in the country.

This was stated by District Nazim, Azam Khan Swati, here on Monday.

He said that President Gen Pervez Musharraf an the meeting with the Distract Nazims of the NWFP had been agreed that a tea board would be set up board with the objective of boosting the production of tea in the country, specially in the Mansehra district, said a Press release issued by the Nazim.

The president, during the inaugural ceremony of a tea processing plant on Sept 7 at Dodhal had said said that the government was taking keen interest to cut the tea import and wanted to promote tea production locally.

He had also hoped that if properly executed the plan could lead the country to become a tea exporter.

He had also stressed the need for launchingn joint ventures of public and private entrepreneurs to boost the production of tea so that Rs 12 billion could be saved now being spent on tea import every year.