PESHAWAR, July 31: The NWFP government will get Rs18 billion annually from the federal government as net hydro-electric profit instead of Rs6 billion, besides the dues of Rs345 billion.

Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani told delegations from various districts at the Frontier House that the provincial government had made significant progress in getting the profit.

According to an official statement issued here on Sunday: The chief minister said: “We would soon be able to get Rs18 billion annually in net hydel profit instead of Rs6 billion.”

He said the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government had announced the first provincial industrial policy, which had been welcomed by the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other business organizations.

Mr Durrani said the provincial government had also introduced an agricultural policy aimed at promoting farming and giving relief to landowners and farmers.

He said that the employees of livestock and poultry farms would get interest-free loans after the province received its dues from the federal government.

He assured the delegations that the provincial government would make efforts to check rigging in the local government elections.

He said all measures would be adopted to ensure transparency and women’s participation in the elections.

About flood control measures, Mr Durrani said the provincial government was planning to construct spurs on both sides of Kabul river from Warsak to Nowshera. The secretary irrigation department had been directed to prepare a comprehensive scheme so that the floods could be tackled in future, he said.

The chief minister said he had appealed to the Pakistani community during his visit to the United States to help the flood affected people and needy medical and engineering students. The government would open an account in the Bank of Khyber and raise funds of Rs1 billion for the purpose, he said.

He said the provincial government would form a committee for supervising and providing funds to deserving students.

The delegations apprised the chief minister of the situation in the flood-hit areas and relief activities.