PESHAWAR, July 20: A plan was chalked out on Friday to extend President's Employment Scheme to Fata to help tribal areas' people benefit from this initiative.

NWFP Governor Lt-Gen (retd) Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai on Friday received a presentation on the proposed plan from Muhammad Hanif Khan, Senior Vice President of the National Bank of Pakistan, at the Governor's House. Highlighting the proposed plan, Hanif Khan said that a suitable lending package for Fata was the establishment of Utility Stores in different parts of Fata under the franchise of the Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan.

Similarly, under another scheme titled “New Business Finance” the customers could avail the facility of setting up small retail out-let shops. The development of SME business in marble sector also formed part of the plan to provide necessary financing for the development of marble sector, including purchase of machinery.

The governor, while appreciating the proposed plan, said that President's Employment Scheme was an innovative idea that would help eradicate poverty from tribal areas. This, he added, would also be an income-generating activity for the common people of backward areas.

He said that by extending the scheme to Fata, the poor people would be able to take full benefit from this scheme, which was basically aimed at reducing poverty and generating income activities.—APP