MINGORA, Nov 17: Country director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Mashrooq Ali Shah has assured the district Nazimeen about the timely completion of various schemes under the Malakand Rural Development Project (MRDP).

A spokesman for the project told Dawn here on Sunday that the country director during his visit to Swat had held meetings with the Nazimeen of Swat, Shangla, Buner and Malakand agency and assured them that the project would complete its schemes till 2006.

In reply to some questions by the Nazimeen, the ADB country director said the project would run in accordance with the planning already done without any change in the old planning.

He said the schemes already approved by the Asian Development Bank could not be changed at this stage.

He said the matters pertaining to supply of the Sui gas or any other scheme could only be initiated by the project on behalf of the provincial government.

The MRDP director, Jamshidul Hassan, also spoke to the Nazimeen on the occasion.

Later, the country director visited the agriculture research centre Takhband Mingora and laid a foundation stone of a tissue culture laboratory and green house meant for introduction of new varieties of fruit and vegetables.

The station director of the centre Mumtaz Khan briefed him on the functions of the centre. Swat Nazim Dr Mehboobur Rehman was also present on the occasion.

ONE KILLED: A dispute over irrigation water claimed the life of Akbar Zada, a resident of Bara Bandai Kabal tehsil, here on Sunday.

It was reported that two parties had a dispute over irrigation water, which resulted into a bloody clash.

The relatives of Akbar Zada have accused Anwar Ali, son of Akram Khan, of the murder, and said that the accused had hit Akbar with a sharp weapon.

The police have arrested the accused and further investigation is underway.

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