June 18, 2006	Sunday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 21, 1427

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PESHAWAR, June 17: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government has evolved a plan for welfare of women in the province by providing vocational training to 600 women and shelter to 300 destitute women in the financial year 2006-07.

According to the annual budget announced on Saturday, Rs3.67 billion has been allocated for the education sector while Rs2.17 billion will be spent on health sector projects in the province. Legal assistance will be provided to some 100 helpless women.

The social welfare and women development department has planned to provide rehabilitation facility to 800 drug addicts, shelter and vocational training to 220 orphans, financial assistance to 1,600 disabled persons and vocational training to 500 beggars. Special complexes will be established in the districts of Peshawar, Haripur and Karak. An amount of Rs60 million has been earmarked for 30 projects of the social welfare and women development department.

EDUCATION: An amount of Rs3.67 billion has been allocated for a total of 142 projects in the education sector. Of these, 101 are ongoing projects and 41 new plans. The gross enrolment ratio of girl students at the primary level will be increased from 68 per cent to 70 per cent.

The government will set up 210 primary schools for girls and 90 primary schools for boys. Free textbooks will be provided to 3.3 million students.

A total of 220 high schools will be constructed, 300 schools will be upgraded and 1,300 additional classrooms will be built. Training for 25,000 teachers, construction of cadet colleges in Swat and Charsadda and setting up of 3,000 adult literacy centres are also part of the plan.

HEALTH: An amount of Rs2.17 billion has been earmarked for 119 ongoing projects and 20 new schemes in the health sector. The department will appoint 115 nurses, increase child immunisation coverage, and recruit 2,000 lady health workers.