ISLAMABAD, Sept 23: Federal Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Justice (retired) Abdul Razzaq Thahim has said a sum of Rs5 billion had been allocated for various development projects under the Tameer-i-Pakistan Programme in the current financial year.

Talking to British High Commissioner Mark Lyall Grant, who called on him at his office here on Thursday, the minister said the government was giving priority to development of rural areas for which various schemes were under process to provide basic amenities to the people, said a press release.

Mr Thahim said the development projects had been proposed by parliamentarians for their constituencies and they also supervised them. The ministry of local government as a funding agency monitored these projects.

He said Japan had agreed to provide Rs5 billion for various development schemes under the programme other than our available funds. Besides, Japanese donor agencies were interested in funding for development projects relating to public welfare.

He said an effective monitoring system would be introduced soon to avoid corruption and wastage of money. Mr Grant said the British government was already funding various development projects particularly in the field of health and education.

He said: "We are interested in investment in various projects related to welfare of the poor, particularly those living in katchi abadis and remote areas. He said we are ready for providing skills in the field of financial management and accountability procedure for betterment of local government system in Pakistan.