HANGU, Sept 2: NWFP Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Sardar Mohammad Idrees has said that the next local bodies elections are likely to be held in April 2005.

Talking to newsmen here on Thursday, he said that after holding the elections the new district governments would start functioning in August next. He further said that the Election Commission would announce the schedule for the forthcoming local government elections.

Replying to a question, Mr Idrees said the four provincial governments had agreed to bring certain amendments to the Local Government Ordinance, 2001, to remove controversies and confusion.

He said the provincial government with the help of the National Development Bank would start various uplift schemes in Hangu district and allocated Rs50m for this purpose. The minister said that the provincial finance commission had started audit in 10 districts of the province.