PESHAWAR, Sept 18: In response to the World Bank’s suggestion that the NWFP should reduce the size of its annual development programme for the current financial year, provincial Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani explained his government’s stand on the issue to the members of the bank’s wrap-up mission which called on him here on Thursday.

Led by its country director for Pakistan, John Wall, the World Bank mission held separate meetings with Mr Durrani and senior minister Siraj-ul-Haq.

The two sides discussed the results achieved under the first year of implementation of the provincial reforms programme funded by the bank through its structural adjustment credit (SAC) and matters relating to the restoration of fund-ing line for the second year of implementation in the 2003-04 financial year.

Explaining his government’s position regarding the size of the 2003-04 financial year’s ADP, the chief minister, according to an official handout, apprised him that the development plan had been prepared according to the people’s desires.

The World Bank is of the view that the province should reduce the number of development schemes to bring down the size of throw-forward liability which has gone as high as to Rs26bn because of incorporating over 1,100 new schemes in the current fiscal year’s ADP.

“People have expectations from the elected government and the ADP has been designed in fulfilment of their desires,” the official handout quoted the chief minister as having said.

Mr Durrani said his government had prioritized education, health and other social sectors in its plan to provide quality services to the masses.

The decentralization of resources down to the district level would bring a big change and the people would get these facilities at local level, he added.

He explained that the development process was undertaken on need basis wherein the focus had been made on the improvement of services in health and education sectors.

He said the provincial government had significantly brought down non-developmental expenditures and maintained strict financial discipline.

“With all deficiencies the government is trying to provide quality services in health, education and other sectors,” said the chief minister.

He said his government had fulfilled all commitments with the donors’ agencies and increased the district governments’ share under the provincial resources.