30 April 2005	Saturday	20 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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PESHAWAR, April 29: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has directed officials to accelerate work on development schemes announced for Malakand and Kohistan districts and warned that government officials causing delay in implementation of the projects would be punished.

The chief minister presided over a meeting here on Thursday to review the pace of work on development activities that had been approved for Kohistan and Malakand districts.

The meeting reviewed schemes regarding extension of Sui gas to the districts, schemes for education, Annual Development Programme (ADP) and non-ADP schemes, roads and communication, drinking water, irrigation schemes, health sector, industries and other social sectors, said an official handout.

The chief minister approved various schemes as non-ADP for both the districts and said that the government would provide additional funds.

He warned that no body should create any obstacles in the delivery of efficient services and the government would take action against those who failed to utilise resources for the public welfare.

The provincial government has released Rs 50 million for small projects in Malakand district. The chief minister directed the officials to ensure rapid utilisation of resources.

He directed to release ten million rupees immediately for the gas extension to various localities that he had already announced in the previous by-elections in Malakand.

He said that funds had been allocated for the up-gradation of various educational institutions and construction of additional rooms.

He ordered the completion of the on-going and newly-approved schemes as early as possible. He also assured the provision of additional resources for schemes to improve services in social sectors.

The provincial government was considering to construct an education complex in Peshawar according to the demand of the people.

The meeting briefed the chief minister about Abazai Irrigation Canal which had been approved. Rajor to Sakhakot Canal has been made operational and the irrigation department had prepared feasibility for the flood protection spurs, the officials informed.

The meeting was told about Barani dam, irrigation tube wells and other schemes in Ghaladand. The chief minister directed to add these schemes in the next ADP.

The chief minister directed that work on projects like construction of two-degree colleges one each in Pattan and Dasoo in district Kohistan should immediately be initiated.

He directed the DCO to acquire land for both the projects. He said that the people of Kohistan district were cooperating with the government for voluntarily destroying their poppy crops and the provincial government would compensate for that.

The chief minister approved a vocational institute at Dargai adding that this would produce skilled manpower. The government had already planned industrial units near Malakand-III and the skilled manpower to be produced in the vocational institute would get jobs in the industrial units.

The chief minister directed to arrange five buses for various colleges that he approved recently.

The chief minister directed to arrange necessary funding for extension of electricity to various localities in Malakand and Kohistan.

He was informed him about development schemes in Kohistan district that included schemes in roads communication, up-gradation of two police stations in Kohistan district, erection of chairlifts, etc. He directed the officials to accelerate work on two hospitals announced for Kohistan.