SKARDU, April 23: The government will spend Rs10 million on the power sector in Northern Areas (NA) during the next fiscal year.

Northern Areas Chief Secretary Chaudhry Qamaruzaman announced the measure while talking to public representatives and local journalists here on Monday.

Mr Qamaruzaman said the NA had a vast hydro-electric potential from which a lot of advantage can be taken.

The government will add several important uplift schemes in its annual development programme for the region in consultation with public representatives, he said

He said that the census in all five districts of NA would be conducted by October this year. For this purpose the paper work and preparation of maps of each town and village is underway, he added.

The chief secretary said the capabilities of women in local bodies would be further enhanced by offering them a Rs2,000 scholarship on monthly basis and other incentives.