ISLAMABAD, Jan 16: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Maj (retd) Tahir Iqbal has said that a reform package granting fundamental constitutional powers to representatives of the Northern Areas is in the final stage and will be sent to the federal cabinet for approval soon.

“It is expected that 90 per cent of the recommendations forwarded by the Northern Areas representatives for inclusion in the Legal Framework Order would be approved,” he said while chairing the cabinet meeting of the Northern Areas Legislative Council here on Tuesday.

The meeting was attended by the NALC advisers, Secretary Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Division, N. Areas Chief Secretary and other officials.

The minister expressed hope that after the approval of LFO, NAs representatives would be empowered to work for the betterment of their people.

The meeting was held for midterm review of the annual development programme in NAs and the performance of the various departments.

The minister said that projects under the ADP were being satisfactorily implemented as 69 per cent of the funds had been utilised, but to achieve the development targets set forth by the government, further enhancement of work pace and a stronger commitment was needed.

He said that the federal government assigned utmost priority to the socio-economic progress of the areas for which provision of electricity to the entire area was primary requirement.

He said that electricity had to be provided to smaller districts Ganche, Astor and Chilas on the priority basis to bring them at par with the developed cities of the country.

The minister directed the adviser and secretary power to develop and implement projects in these areas on immediate basis and explore all the available new technologies in this regard.

During the meeting, it was informed that electricity requirements of Skardu and Gilgit would be soon met after the completion of Sadpara and Naltar dams.

Advisers and secretaries briefed the meeting about the performance of their respective departments and said that out of total annual development budget of Rs4025.000 million, Rs1317.046 million had been already utilized, while all the new schemes 276 included in annual development budget 2006-07 had been approved and work had already been started on 45 per cent of schemes.

It was informed that PC-1 for the construction of hospital and Cadet College in Chillas had been approved.