PESHAWAR, June 24: A Fata Annual Development Programme of over Rs4 billion for 2004-05 has been finalized. This is 22.8 per cent more than the current year's ADP.

A high-level meeting, presided over by Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, here on Wednesday discussed proposals for development and carried out certain amendments to make them more realistic, logical and practical.

Additional Secretary P&D Fata Aftab Akbar Durrani through a detailed presentation highlighted the general development strategy, major initiatives, salient features and proposed projects and programmes aiming at the socio-economic uplift of tribal areas.

This time funds have been allocated agency-wise under a formula based on population and area, whereas 85 per cent resources have been earmarked for the ongoing projects and 15 per cent for new schemes on priority basis.

Education, health, irrigation and agriculture sectors have been put on priority and the new projects, especially income-generating plans, would also be initiated. Education tops the all priorities, with 22 per cent of the total outlay, besides health, agriculture and irrigation.

During the forthcoming fiscal year, efforts would be made for optimum use of natural resources, improvement in social services delivery system and removal of regional and gender disparities.

In education sector new community schools would be opened according to need; existing schools would be upgraded from primary to middle and from middle to high schools, with a special focus on girls education institutions.

New colleges would also be opened and post-graduate classes would be initiated in a number of existing degree colleges. Under the sector-wise strategy, projects of sports stadiums and women hostels on tehsil level would be completed, besides strengthening the scientific and computer laboratories and libraries in all educational institutions.

In health sector all the agency and tehsil headquarters hospitals would be extended and equipped with advanced technology. The mobile medical hospitals programme would also be expanded and strengthened.

The population welfare programme and prevention of hepatitis and AIDS have also been given due consideration in the new development programme. These would be a special emphasis on the expansion of road network in the newly-opened areas and other parts of the tribal belt.

In the agriculture sector per acre yield would be increased, cultivable wasteland developed and improved varieties of non-traditional crops would be introduced. Similarly, wild olives would be converted into oil-bearing varieties, besides the cultivation of tea and mashroom and introduction of off-season vegetables.

During the presentation it was revealed that besides completion of six ongoing small dams projects, work on another six would be commenced during the ensuing financial year, whereas feasibility study of 12-more small dams would be taken up.

In the industrial sector two small industrial estates would be established, besides opening and upgradation of women skilled development centres. Production of coal and soap stone would be enhanced.

The governor described the new Fata ADP as a significant move towards overall socio-economic development of Fata, saying that during the new fiscal year more or less half a billion rupees would be spent on each tribal agency. This was an unprecedented development in the entire history of Fata, he added.

He stressed the need for improving the capacity of fund utilization by the departments concerned, saying that the government would also take fresh initiatives in this regard.

In the education sector, the governor stressed on enhancing and expanding existing facilities for girl students and stressed that laboratories and libraries in all educational institutions must also be focused upon.

All medical facilities in Fata must be made modern and equipped with latest facilities, the governor said, adding that the mobile hospitals programme should also be made more beneficial and organized by creating a separate organization for this purpose with full authority and responsibility.

The governor also directed Pesco to expedite the power supply plan in Fata for which the required financial resources have already been made available. He also stressed that consultants should be hired for the road projects to ensure construction of quality roads in Fata.