PESHAWAR, May 30: A devolution trust fund will be set up at the federal level to fund community empowerment projects at the district level, official sources told Dawn here on Thursday.

“ The National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) is working on the subject, and negotiations with some of the leading international donor agencies are on to make them financially support the creation of the fund,” said senior government functionaries.

The director general, good governance, NRB, Mr Wasiullah, during his presentation at a seminar held on Tuesday last at Peshawar, had also made a passing reference about the creation of the Devolution Trust Fund (DTF), and that the idea was already under discussion with the donor agencies.

He had said President Gen Pervez Musharraf would shortly make a formal announcement about setting up of the DTF which would directly provide funds to the district governments for carrying out community empowerment projects.

NRB Chairman Tanvir Naqvi, said the sources, would shortly hold a meeting with some leading donor agencies to discuss the idea and win pledges from them.

“ One of the donor agencies,” said the sources “ had already committed to finance for the purpose.”

A high-level official said: “Quite a big amount would be provided - may be millions of dollars”.