PESHAWAR, Aug 2: The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) in collaboration with the health department plans to strengthen the Expanded Programme on Immunization in three backward districts of the NWFP.

"The Central Development Working Party approved the concept paper last week and now the PC-I is being prepared to launch the project at the earliest," EPI deputy director Dr Waheed Khan told Dawn on Monday.

Under the project, he said, health facilities in Shangla, Buner and Swat districts would be strengthened to vaccinate the children below five years of age. The vaccination is against six diseases that attack the children.

Out of a total of Rs46 million, estimated to be spent to execute the project, Jica has pledged Rs38 million. The project would be completed in five years. He said the three districts were selected on the Jica condition that the areas to be covered under the project should be at least 100 kilometres away from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, apart from being backward.

"Jica wants the project to have smooth sailing and remain unaffected by the military activities in tribal areas. Therefore, we have selected three districts which are adjacent to each other," he said.

He said Jica would provide solar energy as many of the health facilities in the selected districts lacked electricity and gas supply. Dr Khan said Jica was also extending financial and technical assistance to Balochistan for similar activities.