PESHAWAR, Jan 18: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has said that the announcement by President Gen Pervez Musharraf regarding construction of Bhasha and Munda dams and increase in the subvention for provinces would prove to be in the best interest of the nation and the country.

“This will not only upgrade the country’s agriculture but also improve people’s standard of living,” the chief minister said in an interview.

He said people of the NWFP had been demanding commencement of work on the Bhasha and Munda dams. “These will generate electricity and help cope with shortage of water,” he said. Mr Durrani thanked Gen Musharraf for announcing the construction of Bhasha dam. The decision, he said, was in consonance with the aspirations of the people and would benefit the entire country.

He said that with the increase in subvention money the share of the NWFP would touch Rs9.71 billion.

He thanked the president for accommodating the demands of the NWFP government. “The president has earned more respect of the people of the NWFP by keeping their interest in view,” he said.—APP