PESHAWAR, Aug 18: The federal government has earmarked an amount of Rs380 million for setting up skill development centres for women in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas during the current financial year, sources say.

Major investment would be made to establish these centres in several parts of Fata where tribal women would be impar-

ted vocational training, enab-ling them to earn their livelihood.

Apart from establishing skill development centres for tribal women, the government also intended to carry out several women empowerment schemes by creating economic opportunities for them.

Emphasis on women empowerment, said the official, had been necessitated to achieve the overall objective of reducing the incidence of poverty, which is rising at an alarming rate in the tribal belt adjoining the NWFP.

“An all-time high investment of Rs380.5 million will be utilized by carrying out women development activities in Fata under the current financial year’s Public Sector Development Programme,” an official concerned of the provincial government said.

Separate allocations have been made for the seven administrative units and tribal areas that are described as Frontier Regions (FRs).

A major part of the total amount would be diverted towards the Mohmand and Khyber agencies, which would jointly get Rs105 million making 27 per cent of the total amount. Islamabad intends to utilize for women empowerment in Fata during the 2003-04 financial year, they added.

An amount of Rs35 million has been specified for Bajaur Agency, Rs50 million for Mohmand Agency, Rs55 million for Khyber Agency, Rs30 million for Kurram Agency, Rs30 million for Orakzai Agency, Rs30 million for North Waziristan Agency and Rs30 million for South Waziristan Agency.

From among the Frontier Regions, FR Peshawar would get Rs35 million and an equal amount would be spent in areas constituting FR Kohat.

Similarly, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank and Dera Ismail Khan frontier regions would get Rs10 million each during the 2003-04 financial year.