PESHAWAR, May 10: Additional Chief Secretary Ghulam Dastagir on Wednesday stressed the need for close coordination among social sector bodies to prevent overlapping of programmes and projects.

He was presiding over a briefing by the senior general manager, NWFP, of National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), Mr Aftab Alam, in his office. He was accompanied by director-general of Sarhad Development Unit (SDU) Fakhr-i-Alam, chief economist, Hassan Yousafzai and district coordination officer, Mansehra, Shakil Qadir.

Mr Ghulam Dastagir said that coordination among various development organisations and agencies would save resources.

“The overlapping of various programmes and projects is hampering the delivery of services. Coordination would also ensure timely uplift of areas where the organisations and agencies are working,” he said.

Mr Dastagir called upon officials to speed up data collection to ensure maximum enrolment in the next academic session.

“The data collection is the primary step to launch the Universal Primary Education Programme in newly operational districts. Teachers and volunteers must concentrate on data collection to ensure accuracy,” he added.

Mr Dastagir said that district officials should benefit from the trainings received and must utilise the same accordingly.

Earlier, senior general manager, NWFP, of NCHD, Aftab Alam said that so far 2,858 adult literacy centres have been completed, from which 5,3751 learners have graduated.

“Currently, 1,170 adult literacy centres are functional in 11 districts of NWFP, where 29,838 learners are enrolled. Till June 2010, another 48,000 centres would be established where 1,200,000 learners would be enrolled,” Aftab Alam added.

He said that due to shortage of teachers in government primary schools, 946 feeder teachers had been appointed along with setting up 173 community feeder schools.

He said the restructuring of Basic Health Units is under process.