PESHAWAR, Feb 5: Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has pledged to create an investor-friendly environment to generate development and employment in the province.

Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected office-bearers of the Peshawar Press Club here on Tuesday, he said that the federal government had not given enough importance to the province, and this had caused unemployment and poverty in the area.

Senior Minister Siraj-ul-Haq and NWFP Assembly Speaker Bakhat Jehan were also present on the occasion.

“Even the incentives given to the Gadoon Industrial Estate for the benefit of the local people were withdrawn, which led to joblessness.”

For the last 30 years, he said, the huge influx of Afghan refugees had also put a negative impact on the province’s economy.

He said the MMA government was evolving a strategy to speed up economic activity and construct small power hydel units. He said the government would provide all facilities to foreign investors.

The government, the chief minister said, was making efforts to promote trade ties with the Central Asian States via Afghanistan and a plan was under consideration to construct a road from Bannu to Khost (Afghanistan) to initiate trade activities through southern routes.

The non-payment of the net hydel profit of the province, which was Rs six billion a year, was stuck up at the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).

Earlier, the chief minister administered the oath to the office- bearers of the Press Club. The club president, Jan Afzal, said the institution would work for the promotion of democracy in the province.

He asked the government to implement the seventh wage board award without any further delay.