PESHAWAR, Jan 8: Work on a number of development  projects  in different sectors is in progress  at  a cost of rupees 1,740 million in Khyber Agency. The projects include projects for which special funds have been provided by President Gen Pervez Musharraf for the uplift of inaccessible tribal areas.

This was stated at meeting presided over by the NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah at Governor’s House here on Wednesday.

The participants were informed that 126 educational institutions of different categories from primary to college level were being opened in the agency during the current year. Female education was being priority and for this purpose 40 girls primary schools, two high schools and three higher secondary schools were being established during this period, the meeting was told.

Besides, it was stated that 20 new projects in health sector were also under implementation while Rs 37 million were being spent on different road projects in the Agency.

During the briefing, it was also disclosed that an amount of Rs 32.9 million had also been allocated under a special package for the accelerated development of Bazaar Zakha Khel and Tira Areas and special funds had been allocated for education, health, agriculture and water supply sectors.

Talking on the occasion Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah stressed the need to improve the literacy rate specially among the girls and said that besides opening new institutions, the standard of education be improved.

Responding to a point raised on this occasion, the governor directed that the newly approved educational institutions should be  started immediately even in rental buildings without  waiting for the completion of new buildings.

He also pointed out that the new educational institutions should  be  opened  keeping  in  view  the requirements  of  the respective  areas  and all such institutions should be  based  at community and village level.

In fact, he said, special incentives were being provided for the people of FATA and the procedure was being simplified.

In the health sector, the governor also reiterated the government policy that the agency headquarter hospitals were being fully equipped and upgraded in all respect and in accordance with the need of the hour.

Talking about the electrification process, the governor said that   not  a  single  connection  should  be  extended   without installation  of meter and especially the commercial  connections must be made bound to install meters without any delay.

Stressing the need to develop forests in FATA, the governor said tree plantation  should  be given priority in all  such  areas,  where water is available in abundance.