PESHAWAR, May 26: The proposed plan to link all the 24 districts of the NWFP through computer and set up an information management and dissemination system has yet to take off for want of funds, sources told Dawn.

They said the federal ministry of science and technology had envisaged a plan to computerize the directorate of information in Peshawar and link it with all the district information offices through Internet and develop an online news management system.

The sources said the cost of the project had been estimated at Rs19.868 million and its PC-1 had been approved. The ministry of science and technology was supposed to provide 75 per cent funds during the current financial year which was about to end.

They said despite repeated requests the ministry had yet to release the required amount. The project is aimed at strengthening the directorate of information office with the introduction of latest system of information technology for news processing, dissemination and deployment of an online news and information system and to build capacity of the directorate staff.

According to the PC-1 of the project, no network or proper computer setup is available at the directorate of information, either at its headquarters or any of the district offices.

At present, the headquarters is relying on two P-II and P-III machines, whereas the district offices are still using typewriters and Dak dispatch system.

Last week, the provincial government established a media centre at the directorate office at a cost of Rs1.4 million. Only three computer had so far been installed there. An official said that the newly-established media centre would be upgraded after the federal government released funds for the project.