ISLAMABAD, Aug 8: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Dr G.G Jamal says the government is giving top priority to the development and prosperity of the Northern Areas, especially in education, health, hydel power, communications and transport.

He was presiding over a meeting of the Northern Areas Executive Development Committee (NAEDC) here. The meeting was attended by the deputy chief executive Northern Areas, Fida Mohammad Naushad; chief secretary, Mohammad Farid Khan and secretaries of various departments.

The minister was briefed on the ongoing and proposed uplift schemes for inclusion in the ADP for 2004-05. The minister was told that 211 schemes out of 443 would be completed at the end of the current year.

The minister emphasized the need for an increase in literacy ratio and also directed the Northern Areas authorities to initiate work on the construction of hostels for the students to solve their accommodation problem.