PESHAWAR, April 6: NWFP Minister for Science and Technology Hussain Ahmed Kanju said on Tuesday that promotion of quality education was a prerequisite for rapid development of the country and the provincial government had started reforms in all sectors, particularly education and health. Speaking at parents? day functions at the Ghazali Model School in Chota Lahor in Swabi district and Al Furqan Model School, Haripur, the minister said enforcement of Shariat and Islamic education system was the only solution to the problems of the common man. He said strenuous efforts were being made for the purpose despite strong opposition from some quarters.

He said imported education system and curriculum would be opposed as the country was created in the name of Islam.

He said the federal government should announce a special package for the NWFP in view of its backwardness.

He demanded payment of Rs345 billion dues of profit from hydroelectric power generation to the province.

He said the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government had established financial discipline in the province and approved the Malakand III hydroelectric power project and construction of 10 small dams in the southern districts of the NWFP.

He said new industrial estates were being set up and incentives had been announced for attracting foreign investment to the province.?APP