PESHAWAR, Nov 13: Representatives of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) handed over information technology support equipment to the NWFP assembly authorities.

Hassan Baroudy, acting director of the USAID-Pakistan’s office of democracy and governance, presented the equipment to Mohammad Mushtaq, secretary of the NWFP assembly at a ceremony held at the assembly building on Monday.

According to a press release issued by the Pakistan Legislative Strengthening Project of the USAID, the equipment include computers and printers, high-end photocopiers, digital duplication equipment, recording and transcription gadgets and software to enable the assem-bly to set up and maintain a state-of-the-art archival system, a modern library management system and instant communications facilities for MPAs.

The equipment were provided under a $1.5 billion aid that the US government will be extending to Pakistan in next five years to improve education, health, governance and economic growth and for earthquake reconstruction, said the press release.

The equipment will help MPAs better represent their constituents as well as enable the assembly staff better serve the parliamentarians, said the assembly secretary Mushtaq.