Thursday, July 16, 2009
PESHAWAR: A high-level meeting on Wednesday approved Rs10.350 billion for Annual Development Programme 2009-10 of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
NWFP Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani presided over the meeting and attended by FATA parliamentarians, FATA additional chief secretary, secretary to the governor, FATA P&D secretary, political agents, DCOs and heads of FATA line departments.
The meeting was informed that the federal government had allocated Rs11.50 billion for FATA development during the current financial year out of which Rs1.15 billion would be spent by FATA development authority leaving behind Rs10.350 billion for FATA Annual Development Programme to be executed through the line departments of FATA secretariat. 90 per cent of the total outlay amounting to Rs9.265 billion have been allocated for ongoing projects and Rs1.18 billion, 10pc of the total development budget, will be spent on the new development schemes.
Under agency-wise allocation, the highest amount of Rs1.567 billion had been allocated for South Waziristan Agency followed by Rs1.186 billion for North Waziristan Agency. Similarly, the highest amount of Rs3.20 billion under sector-wise allocation is earmarked for the communication sector followed by Rs2.20 billion for education.
Similarly, realistic cost estimates have been prepared so that all schemes should be completed in two years. The meeting thoroughly discussed the ADP proposals and the proposals from the parliamentarians.
The governor while talking on different points said the situation in FATA was now becoming conducive for carrying out the development process that now onward progress and development of FATA would be mainly focused. He directed the officials to ensure full utilization of funds and speedy completion of projects.
Ghani said quarterly review meeting would be held in order to see progress on each and every development project. The slow moving projects, he added, would be revisited and funds would be reallocated for fast-moving projects.
He said under ADP, funds allocation had been made under an agreed formula, which, he added, was only for ADP allocations. About consultation with FATA parliamentarians, the governor said the process was continuing at various forums, adding that elected representatives were being involved in the process at the agency level as well.
The governor appreciated the performance of FATA monitoring cell, saying that the monitoring system was going on effectively.
We have prepared the system on modern lines under which a clear picture about on-the-ground progress is achieved, he added. He hoped that cooperation and support of elected representatives would be of great help in the completion of development schemes.
Earlier the meeting was also briefed on the ADP achievements during the previous financial year. It was told that during 2008-2009, Rs5.61 billion were released for the FATA development under ADP and utilized totally. Work on 316 development projects were carried out, after completing 198 schemes.
The meeting was told that three mega projects having Bara Dam had been brought under the federal PSDP. The scholarships were awarded to more than 27 thousands students in the education sector and 656 students in the health sector during the previous financial year.
---------- Post added at 08:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:52 AM ----------
Thursday, July 16, 2009
ABOTTABAD: NWFP Minister for Livestock and Dairy Development Hidayatullah Khan has said mega projects are being launched for the development of livestock sector which will generate jobs for local people.
He expressed his views while speaking at the concluding session of the annual review meeting of the department at the Veterinary Research Centre Abbottabad on Wednesday.
The minister said under the new projects, one model dairy farm, beef farm and poultry farm would be established in every district of the province. Local people will not only get eggs, milk and meat but also jobs from these farms, he added. The minister appreciated the performance of position-holder officers in 2008-09 and distributed certificates and awards.
Livestock Director General Dr Sher Mohammad briefed the minister about the achievements, planning and other requirements of the department, especially for the year 2008-09, vaccination of animals, availability of animal medicines, mobile clinics, poultry industry and bird flu.
The minister said it was need of the hour to upgrade the livestock department because it was the main earning source of the common man of backward areas. He hoped that officials of the department would come up to the expectations of public. He directed the authorities concerned to expedite work in service structure and promotion process.
The meeting was attended by Director VRI Dr Nasir Hussain, Director Livestock Fata Dr Bashir and others.
---------- Post added at 08:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:53 AM ----------
Thursday, July 16, 2009
ISLAMABAD: A power unit of 250 megawatts is being installed in Faisalabad to provide uninterrupted power supply to the textile industry, which will be operational by the end of the current month.
This was stated by the Federal Minister for Textile Industry Rana Muhammad Farooq Saeed Khan while chairing a meeting regarding energy issues of the textile sector here on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the overall situation of the textile sector and the problems faced by it due to energy crisis came under discussion.
The participants expressed deep concern over high tariffs and said that special tariffs should be introduced for the textile sector. They also apprised the federal minister about bank-related matters in detail and BT cotton and R&D-related matters were also discussed.
Participants gave different proposals and suggestions to help overcome different crisis faced by the textile sector. They mentioned that our economy mainly depends on the textile sector. Therefore, the government has to take concrete steps in this regard.
Federal minister for the textile industry said that textile is the most important sector of our economy and the government is committed to resolving all textile-related issues on priority basis because it is our export oriented sector. He said that the concerns of participants, along with their proposals and suggestions are most valuable, which is why all possible remedial measures would be taken in this regard.
Maximum relief will be provided to the textile sector, he said, adding that different meetings with NEPRA, WAPDA, OGRA, SBP and Federal Minister for Food would be arranged to settle maximum issues.