12 March 2004	Friday	20 Muharram 1425

PESHAWAR, March 11: NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah said on Wednesday that people in less developed areas, including the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, were taking interest in the promotionof education.

He was talking to a four-member delegation of the Northern Areas Legislative Council, currentlyon a study tour here, that called on him at Governor's House.

He said the rapid development taking place in different sectors, especially in infrastructure, would have positive effects on the socioeconomic development of the region.

The governor assured the delegation, led by Northern Areas Advisor on Education, Finance and Revenue Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman, that the issue of difficulties faced by traders on the Karakoram Highway would be taken up with the quarters concerned.

Hafeezur Rehman said the five districts of the Northern Areas were being connected through a carpeted roads network. He said the region was being connected through roads of international standard to Mansehra and Chitral.

He said the international trade route was also being developed. He said trade was the major source of socio economic development in the area and the infrastructure development would have far reaching effects in this regard.

He said there exists a scope to generate 40,000MW electricity in the Northern Areas. He also mentioned the establishment of the Karakoram University.