ISLAMABAD, July 19: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Friday promulgated an ordinance to establish National Commission for Human Development to implement various programmes and projects in the social sector in collaboration with philanthropists.

The objective of the commission is to promote human development with the help and assistance of NGOs and elected officials at grassroots level.

Through this commission, the government also intends to streamline its programmes and activities in the sectors of primary education, literacy, income generating activities and basic health care service.

President shall be the patron-in-chief of the commission and it will also include a chairman to be appointed by the president and five members, including a representative of ministry of finance to be appointed by the president on the recommendation of the chairman.

All the provinces will also be given due representation in the commission and gender equality will be ensured among the members.

The main office of the commission will be at Islamabad while sub-office can be set up in the provinces.

The commission shall be an autonomous body of the Cabinet Division and its chairman shall be an eminent professional of known integrity, reputation, competence, and expertise in the social sector.

The chairman shall hold office for a period of five years. The members of the commission shall be professionals of integrity and experience in the social sector.

The commission will formulate, approve, manage, promote, enhance, implement, execute, monitor and organize its support programmes and projects for assistance of ministries, departments and agencies concerned.

It will also take necessary steps for capacity building, training and enhancement of competency of government functionaries and non-governmental organizations working in the social sectors.

The commission will also plan various programmes to improve literacy rate, to promote non- formal basic education programmes supported by skills training programmes for income generating activities.

The newly established Commission will also make programmes to assist in primary education, primary health care and also assist in alleviation of poverty.—APP