PESHAWAR, Jan 22: The NWFP government has constituted a committee to make recommendations for the long-awaited merger of the Sarhad Development Authority (SDA) and Small Industrial Development Board (SIDB).

The decision was taken at a meeting of the NWFP Economy Commission held last week. The meeting reviewed a report earlier submitted by a two-member committee for the transformation of the two entities into Investment Facilitation Agency (IFA), an official told Dawn.

The committee to be headed by the special secretary to NWFP chief minister would have representatives from the establishment, finance, law and economy departments as its members.

It would propose a solution for the merger of the two bodies, which was pending for the last seven years, the official said.

Representatives from the finance, industries and establishment departments expressed reservations over some of the recommendations of the two-member committee and emphasised further deliberations.

The recommendations, according to the official, included the transfer of assets and liability of SIDB to IFA, provision of legal cover to agreements and lease contracts of SIDB and increasing the staff position of IFA from 150 to 270.