PESHAWAR, June 19: Education, communications and health sectors will cumulatively get a major share out of the Federally Administer Tribal Areas’ annual development programme for the financial year 2012-13.
With Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Masood Kausar in the chair here at the Governor’s House, a high-level meeting on Tuesday reviewed the Rs15 billion Fata ADP for the next fiscal, according to an official news release.
The governor, the administrative head of Fata, was informed that 25 per cent of the ADP had been allocated for education sector development projects, 24 per cent for communications, and 11 per cent for the health sector development works.
Among other sectors, agriculture sector has been given three per cent of ADP funds, energy 2.2 per cent, irrigation seven per cent, livestock 1.6 per cent, forest four per cent, rural development 1.4 per cent, housing 1.3 per cent, technical education 0.6 per cent, social welfare 0.4 per cent and regional development 12 per cent.
The governor told participants that it was encouraging that despite unfavorable circumstance the government had kept up carrying outdevelopmental project in tribal areas.
He asked the officials of the Fata Secretariat, Peshawar, to focus on health and education sectors in Fata and said employment generation schemes should be introduced.
During the meeting, participants were given a briefing on Fata budget for the year 2012-13 by the additional chief secretary. The meeting was also attended by the chief executive of Fata Development Authority and the finance secretary for Fata.
The new ADP includes establishment of Islamia College University in Sadda and Parra Chinar in Kurram Agency and Fata University in FR Kohat.
Under the new ADP, a feasibility study will be conducted to determine the viability of setting up a ‘Regional Investment Bank’ in Fata.
Besides, a cement production plant will also be set up in Frontier Regions (Dera Ismail Khan). Sufficient funds have been kept for completing the under establishment Marble City in Fata. Also, money has been allocated for oil and gas exploration and establishment of modellivestock farms.
The governor issued directions for giving preference to revenue generating schemes and creating better job opportunities for Fata youth. He said quarterly review meetings should be held to keep an eye on the utilisation of development funds and the pace of development projects in Fata.