PESHAWAR, Feb 17: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said the development of tribal areas is among top priorities of the government and several development and revenue-generating schemes have been launched to bring these areas at par with other parts of the country.

The prime minister was talking to NWFP Governor Lt-Gen (retd) Ali Mohammed Jan Aurakzai soon after his arrival here on a short visit. He said the federal government had allocated a record amount for infrastructure development and improvement of health and education facilities in Fata.

The government was also trying to set up economic zones with assured access to international markets for goods produced in these zones, he said, adding that these zones would contribute to the uplift of tribal areas and the well-being of its residents.

Mr Aziz said that no meaningful economic activity could take place without peace and stability, and the government would not allow anybody to try and disrupt the process for the development of tribal areas.

He said the federal government would allocate additional resources for the development of hydel energy, mining and mineral resources and the establishment of small and medium enterprises.

The governor briefed the prime minister about the development activities being carried out in tribal areas as well as the overall political and law and order situation in the province.

He said the law and order situation had been showing improvement and the pace of implementation of economic projects was satisfactory.—APP