PESHAWAR, Nov 20: NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah has directed the National Database & Registration Authority (Nadra) to prepare a plan for the introduction of e-government in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

The governor passed the directive while visiting Ghallani in the Mohmand tribal region on Wednesday to inaugurate, among other things, the new Swift Registration Centre to facilitate the issuance of new computerised identity cards to tribesmen.

He directed DG Nadra Brig Anwar Khan to discuss the proposition with officials in the Fata secretariat concerned and prepare a detailed plan to introduce e-government in Fata, link the administration in the tribal area through computers to improve efficiency and further streamline its affairs.

“We have offered free service. We will prepare free software for Fata,” Brig Anwar said.

Nadra had earlier prepared free software for the central prison in Peshawar that would include the antecedents of all prisoners to check their past criminal record.

It has also prepared without charge software containing data of Zakat mustahikeen in the NWFP, software for the police and police complaint cell and has set up a verification centre at the Hajj Directorate to facilitate intending pilgrims.

The DG Nadra informed that preliminary discussions with the Fata secretary had already been held and further meetings would be held in the coming days to know their requirements and design a proper software that would fulfil their needs.

He said that Nadra had already issued computerised identity cards to 67 per cent of the eligible population of the NWFP and Fata and was hopeful that it would be able to achieve its target of issuing 8.8 million computerised identity cards by the close of Dec 31 deadline.

He made it clear that the deadline would not be extended. “Swift centres have been established in the length and breadth of the province and the tribal areas and no one should have any excuse now,” he said.