PESHAWAR, Jan 30: The NWFP government departments have been asked to suggest amendments related to their sectors in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), according to sources.

The provincial planning and development department, in a letter sent on Jan 26, has asked the secretaries of all the departments to recommend changes they want to incorporate under the strategy.

The strategy, put in place in July 2004, envisages poverty alleviation in the province through economic growth, better services delivery systems and an enhanced efficiency of public sector institutions.

"The strategy is meant for a long term and it should be updated to take cognizance of the changing ground realities," an official said. According to official studies, the NWFP has the highest ratio of poverty and lowest per capita income in the country.

The PRSP, formulated in line with the federal government's commitments with donor agencies, focuses on reforms in governance, services delivery and financial management, a budgetary framework to improve resource mobilization and enhance effectiveness, promoting private sector development and enhancing the province's capability to manage a crisis.

Official circles say the provincial government believes that the document can attract attention of foreign donors for making investment in the NWFP. "The move to update the document is part of the government's endeavours to keep it presentable to the donor agencies," said a development planner.

The letter says: "Since its formulation in 2003, several new perspectives have emerged at the socio-economic fronts which need to be incorporated in the PRSP on regular basis."