PESHAWAR, Jan 21: The NWFP cabinet on Tuesday made education up to matric free of cost in the government institutions.

Presiding over a meeting of the provincial cabinet at Frontier House, Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani said poverty was one of the basic  factors hindering the promotion of education.  

He said the poor could not afford fee, books and uniform for their children and directed overhauling of the Zakat distribution system so that the needy could benefit. He said the poor and deserving should be supported through the system so that they could stand on their feet.

The cabinet decided to introduce Urdu as official language in the province.  

It decided to allow the candidates to take all the provincial,  professional and competitive examinations in Urdu or English.

It approved the new postings and transfers policy.

It decided to set up a commission to review the affairs of the revenue department and formulate its recommendations to streamline its working keeping in view modern techniques.

The chief minister ordered preparation of a report for computerization of revenue record, improvement of the condition of Patwar Khanas and keeping their record safely.

The chief minister ordered that in future the government officers and ministers would bear the expenses of their visits themselves.

He ordered that no district coordination officer or Tehsildar would compel any Patwari to make arrangements for the visits or public meetings of any official or minister.

The cabinet decided that the decision about Islamization in the province would be made in the light of the recommendations of the commission set up by the NWFP government in this regard. The commission is reviewing the recommendations of Islamic Ideological Council related to the province.

The chief minister appreciated the Structural Adjustment Programme funded by World Bank, under which projects for improved service delivery system had been launched in the province.

However, he said transparency should be brought in the process of development projects under the programme.

He said the federal government would release Rs250 million as the share of the NWFP in the Zakat fund.