PESHAWAR, Sept 25: The NWFP cabinet on Wednesday approved the promulgation of an ordinance for the establishment of Institute of Management Sciences, having autonomous charter and affiliated with Peshawar University.

In a meeting presided over by Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, the cabinet was informed that in compliance with the orders of the governor, the institute established at Hayatabad would be managed by a board of governors. The governor with head the board.

The institute will offer courses in business administration, public administration, information technology and related disciplines. It will make provision for research, management development programmes, consultation and advancement and dissemination of knowledge.

The cabinet approved the repeal of NWFP  Agriculture Produce Market Act, 1939, and decided that the functions given under it would be incorporated into the Local Government Ordinance, 2001, in consultation with the agriculture department by the local government and rural development department.

Privatization of Frontier Seed Industry and leasing out of agriculture extension farms was also approved in the meeting.

The cabinet was informed that due to the importance of agriculture research in breeding new varieties of crops and production of pre-basic seeds, the research stations would continue to shoulder their responsibility after the privatization of the Frontier Seed Industry.

The 10 seed farms of the agriculture extension department, responsible for production and supply of certified seed to farmers, will be given to the private sector on lease.

 As a consequence, the provincial government would be relieved of the burden of salaries of staff and recurring cost of the farms, resulting in an annual saving of Rs10-11 million, the cabinet was told.

The cabinet also discussed matters pertaining to state land in Maira Kichori. It was decided that the cultivable land should be leased out to the agriculture department.

It decided that exemption from stamp duty and registration fee should be given for land donated by the health department for the establishment of Al Shifa Trust Eye Hospital at Kohat.

The cabinet approved setting up of a Small Dams Organization to plan, design and construct such dams.

The health and education departments gave presentations on social sectors development.