March 11, 2002	Monday	Zilhaj 26, 1422

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LAKKI MARWAT, March 10: NWFP Governor Lt-Gen (retired) Syed Iftikhar Hussain has said the government wants to replace the centuries-old British system of governance prevailing in all the provinces as well as in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with a new system in which the public representatives will exercise all the powers.

He was speaking at a meeting with the Nazimeen, Naib Nazimeen and councillors of different union councils of the district held at the under-construction district headquarter hospital, Lakki Marwat.

Following the meeting, he was briefed about the huge health complex on Saturday, some 15 kilometres from the city.

Criticizing all those who had opposed the new local government system, he said the world had seen the new system running successfully. He hoped the system, when introduced in Fata and Frontier Regions (FR), would bring prosperity to the country and raise the standard of living of the tribal people.

He further said the government was giving top priority to two mega projects of national interest — Lawari Top Tunnel and Kurram Tangi Dam.

The government, Iftikhar went on to say, was committed to implement the new policies regarding doctors’ private practice for the sake of the poor people of the province.

Paying tributes to President Gen Pervez Musharraf, he said before he came to power no foreign country was ready to pay any heed to Pakistan but due to his policies every other nation wanted to come to Pakistan.

The government policies in Afghanistan, the governor said, bore fruitful results. Besides, he added, the president had the courage to face India.

He announced Rs20 million grant for the repair of 40 non-functional tubewells, and directed the authorities concerned to prepare a feasibility report for the construction of River Gambila bridge.

He also sanctioned Rs200,000 each for District Bar Association and Government Girls Degree College, Lakki Marwat, and said work would soon be started on Gambila-Dera Indus Highway section just after release of funds/aid by the Japanese government.