04 December 2004	Saturday	21 Shawwal 1425

PESHAWAR, Dec 3: The NWFP government is drawing up what officials describe as a 'vigorous strategy' for undertaking development activities in varous sectors of governance.

"An exercise is under way for quite some time with a view to laying down a comprehensive development strategy for the province," said a development planner of the province. The strategy was aimed at improving the economic base, infrastructure and delivery of services in the province, he added.

Official sources told Dawn that the need to prepare an elaborate strategy was felt to determine the future needs of the province and attain economic growth by exploiting the province's natural resources, strengthening the private sector, improving social indicators and the resource base of the provincial government.

The strategy would provide a vision for the province to achieve short- and long-term goals, the officials claimed. The provincial chief secretary issued instructions to department heads to give their input on how to make a comprehensive plan.

Development planners have been asked to determine the needs of each sector, identify shortcomings and plus points to put the province on the right track. Broad outlines of the scheme were first discussed by a committee of senior bureaucrats, following which the line departments were asked to prepare their separate strategies.

"All departments have been tasked to underscore their plus and minus points, determine the future requirements and areas that should be focused to achieve the objectives," said an official. The document would help the provincial government in wooing international monitory institutions for financial assistance, said the official.