PESHAWAR, Aug 29: The Government of Japan will help the NWFP government to reconstruct the quake-damaged public sector social services infrastructure in Batagram district, including 120 schools, DHQs, seven basic health units and seven bridges the process will be completed by March 2008.

This was stated by Seiji Kojima, Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan, during a meeting with NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani here on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani thanked the Japanese envoy for his country’s generosity for the earthquake-hit people of the Frontier province and said that Japan was the first of donor countries which took practical steps in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of quake-damaged infrastructure.

Mr Durrani said the Kohat Tunnel was a symbol of Pakistan-Japan friendship and added that the feasibility of the Malakand tunnel would be completed with the help of the Japanese government.

Referring to foreign countries reservation about the law and order situation in the tribal belt, the chief minister said there was no affect of the troubled areas on the settled areas of the province, saying linking the law and order situation with settled areas was baseless and against the facts.

He said he had always preferred dialogue and talks against the use of force to arrive at a peaceful settlement of the prevailing problems in tribal areas.

Being in opposition at the Centre, the chief minister said the NWFP was given priority in the meeting of the National Economic Council for its comprehensive and prudent policies in the economic field.—PPI