PESHAWAR, Nov 28: The World Bank's recent exercise to prepare a report on the North-West Frontier Province's economy has irked the planning and development department, NWFP, which is carrying out a similar exercise, according to official sources.

A two-member mission of the Bank - Mr Magdi Amin, senior private sector development specialist, and Isfandyar Zaman Khan, financial analyst - is engaged these days in discussions with officials of the provincial government and representatives of various trade and business communities and collecting data and information for the report.

In the first phase, according to the sources, the bank would prepare a concept note in which comments of all the stakeholders would be incorporated. However, the exercise has caused displeasure to the provincial government's planning and development department which is also carrying out a similar project.

Measurement of the provincial gross domestic product (GDP) and preparation of economic survey of the NWFP forms part of a project undertaken by the planning department for conducting research studies on different subjects.

The project involves total investment of Rs24 million of which the provincial government released around Rs3 million during the current financial year. An amount of Rs800,000 has already been paid to a private consultancy firm for measuring the provincial GDP.

In an official note to the authorities concerned of the finance department, NWFP, the P&D department's authorities have taken exception to the World Bank's exercise, terming it an attempt to assume the role and responsibilities of the planning department.

Officials said the P&D department, in this respect, had taken strong exception and observed that it amounted to duplication of work as a similar exercise had already been undertaken by its authorities concerned and their report on the provincial GDP and economic survey of the NWFP would be ready by March.

"There would be no need for them (P&D) to conduct the project if similar exercise is being done by the World Bank," said an official source. The P&D has also taken the stand that the money already paid to the private firm for measuring the provincial GDP and preparing the economic survey of the NWFP would go down the drain if the government decides to abandon the planning department's project.

"This would not only let the public funds go wasted, all the more it might also encourage legal action from the private firm hired for measuring the provincial GDP," opined an official.

However, official quarters concerned, when contacted, said the World Bank wanted the provincial government to conduct a study on a 'specific subject'. "The government requested the donor agency to conduct the same with a view that their reports and analysis would be more accurate and authentic and provide better input to formulate future strategies," said an official.

Sources in the finance department, when asked about the P&D department'sreaction to the World Bank's economic report, said the provincial government agreed to get it done from the donor agency because the P&D department had undertaken the exercise long ago and did not come up to the task.

"Nobody knows when they would complete the assigned task," said an official source. The project to measure NWFP's GDP and prepare its economic survey had been undertaken during the last financial year. However, the project experienced hiccups after the official circles were not satisfied with the work of the private consultants.