LAKKI MARWAT, Sept 22: NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah declared on Sunday that the government has embarked upon a policy to ensure balanced development of the province, providing resources to the respective institutions subject to their capacity of utilization.

Speaking to Nazimeen and councillors after laying the foundation stone of Degree College for Boys at Serai Naurang, he said: “We have no likes and dislikes towards any area, rather we are making every effort to remove the discrimination and backwardness being suffered by the people.”

The government accorded top priority to the education sector, he said and added: “We fully realise that no society and community can progress  without ensuring provision of proper education to the people. Keeping this fact in view, we are trying our best to bring the most modern educational facilities to the doorstep of the people.”

The governor said women’s education was being given extraordinary importance as educating a girl meant the education of the entire family.

He said special attention was being paid to the removal of gender discrimination.

He said that under the Drought Emergency Relief Assistance Programme, Rs350 million had been earmarked for the development of water resources in district Karak, whereas Rs200 million and Rs190 million had been allocated for Lower Dir and Hangu districts respectively.

Similar projects, he said, were being implemented in other districts of the province under the Barani Development Programme.

Provincial ministers, Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani, Athar Minallah and Bannu District Nazim Engineer Mohammad Iqbal were also present.

#IRRIGATION SYSTEM:#/ The governor inaugurated the Rod Kohi Irrigation System developed at Behramkhel to store rainwater for irrigation.