PESHAWAR, Nov 29: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani on Saturday said that improvement in law and order situation was a pre- requisite for development and sustained economic growth.

“The provincial government is committed to fighting crimes and discouraging crime promoters which is the only way out to make progress and development in all spheres of life,” he said, while talking to district and town nazims of Peshawar, Mansehra and Kohat at the Frontier House on Saturday. MPA Khalid Waqar Chamkani and others were also present on this occasion.

Mr Durrani said that the law-enforcement agencies had been alerted to nab criminals and bust their hideouts. For the maintenance of exemplary law and order situation and establishing a crime free society, coordinated efforts were needed at all levels, he added.

He said the government would take stern action against the anti-social elements and hoped that the local influential people would not extend any support to the criminals.

To a question regarding filling of posts in the education departments, the chief minister said the government had sanctioned recruitment of 10,000 teachers in the province to overcome shortage of teaching staff in schools.

He said the after getting increase in the share of NFC award, provincial rights and increase in share of net hydel profit, the financial position of the government would become stable.

He said that non-development expenditures would be reduced through a strict financial discipline to save more resources for the development of social sectors.