PESHAWAR, Feb 1: NWFP Governor Iftikhar Hussain Shah has described progress on development projects being carried out in the province as satisfactory and urged the authorities to accelerate the pace of fund utilization.
He, however, took strong exception to the slow pace of work on projects in the power sector and directed the officials concerned to complete an electrification project in the Ghar Shamaozai area on an early basis.
The governor said that education and health, being the top priority areas, must be given proper attention and the facilities must be proportionate to the population strength, said a handout issued here on Tuesday.
Mr Shah said that savings made in the development outlay should be diverted to the income-generating sectors like agriculture and irrigation to create job opportunities. He directed that facilities at hospitals of 'B' and 'C' categories should be strengthened to ease the burden on the local hospital.
Highlighting the importance of the livestock sector, the governor said that the sector contained huge potentials and efforts should be initiated for the establishment of livestock farms on the basis of public-private partnership.
Calling for efforts to control the high rate of population, the governor said that the basic health units should mainly be utilized as population welfare centres. The governor was also briefed on major public welfare projects, including sports complex, bus terminal and Fata highway.
He was informed that all sports facilities, including a children park had been completed and made functional. As regard Fata highway, the governor was informed that a survey for the 15km road starting from the Bajaur Agency had been completed.
He stressed that work on the road project should be initiated from both ends so as the time schedule could be curtailed. The governor was informed that six skill development centres for women had been established, which were working successfully. He said from the next financial year these centres could be utilized to raise literacy among the women folk.
US ENVOY: The US Ambassador in Pakistan, Ryan C. Crocker, called on the NWFP governor at the Governor's House on Tuesday and discussed matters of common interest.
The US Ambassador, who was accompanied by Lisa Chiles, Country Director of USAID, Brooke Darby, Narcotics Affairs Section Chief of US Embassy and Michael A. Spangler, Principal Officer of US Consulate in Peshawar, assured the governor that the US government would like to extend its support in a big way in Pakistan's efforts to develop Fata.
The governor, while welcoming the offer, said that Pakistan appreciated the commitment of the United States in extending its support for the development of Fata, which was a backward area.
In response to another point, he said the government was making every effort to curb poppy cultivation as well as to control drug trafficking and hopefully situation would improve this year.Secretary to Governor Sahibzada Saeed Ahmad and Secretary Security Fata Brig Mahmood Shah was also present at the meeting.