KOHAT, April 9: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has exempted mosques and Madaris in the province from water tax and vowed to make the Zakat distribution system transparent so that only the deserving people can benefit from it.

At public gatherings during a day-long visit to Karak district on Wednesday, the chief minister announced Rs10 million for a water supply scheme and sanctioned five middle schools for Babar Khel area. Also, he ordered upgradation of eight primary schools to middle level.

He said the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government would exploit all resources to weed out illiteracy from society, root out corruption and encourage women’s participation in the development activities.

Mr Durrani ordered the upgradation of the area grid station from 100 KVA to 200 KVA, and civil hospital of Takhte Nasrati to tehsil headquarters hospital. He ordered the construction of a road to Takhte Nasrati.

The chief minister approved 15 telephone exchanges for the district to expand the communication network and improve the internet facilities.

He warned that he had the authority to remove any district Nazim, adding that those boycotting the function did not want development of the area and believed in dirty politics.

The district nazim, Sharif Khattak, and the councillors alliance had announced a boycott of the chief minister’s visit because they believed he had not formally invited them to attend public meetings.