PESHAWAR, May 7: The Asian Development Bank will provide $40 million for multi-sectorial programme including construction of small reservoirs in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), official sources said.

For the first time the ADB has shown interest in Fata and agreed to provide financial assistance for such programme in this less developed part of the country.

Apart from the ADB, the US government would also provide $15 million under the USAID programme for roads construction in Fata along the Durand Line to improve communication network in mountainous area, sources in NWFP Governor’s Fata Secretariat told Dawn here   on Wednesday.

They said that the projects related to communication sector, health and education would be included in the next annual development programme for Fata.

An official said 12 small dams have been proposed in seven tribal agencies and the consultancy contract have been awarded to the National Engineering Services of Pakistan (Nespak) as consultancy work to be completed during the current financial year.

The engineering section of the secretariat had completed ground survey and identified 12 sites where small reservoirs would be constructed, officials said. The physical work on irrigation schemes to be executed in the first quarter of the next financial year, he said.

Under the multi-sectorial programme new irrigation channels will be designed and funds will be provided to improve the agriculture sector.

An official said that construction of small reservoirs in tribal belt would benefit agriculture sector and control flash flood in catchment areas of rivers Kurram, Touchi and other small tributaries in Fata.