NWFP to concentrate on backward areas uplift: Durrani

NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has said the annual development program reflects the priorities of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA)'s government. He stated this while talking to various delegations here at Frontier's House on Tuesday. He said we wanted to give more resources to neglected areas, adding, the provision of equal funding and following a uniform policy for the development of all districts were sending positive signals and the people appreciated it.
The chief minister said his government committed to complete the developmental schemes, ensure judicious and in time spending of developmental fund so that the people could have the trickle down affects. We had evolved our policy without political affiliation so that the people at large could get the benefit of our developmental policy, he added.
Durrani said his government had taken radical steps to alleviate poverty and ensure public welfare, adding we were removing hurdles in the developmental strategy through a participatory approach to ensure timely completion of schemes.
The nation buildings departments had been directed to give importance to the schemes of elected representatives and the District Coordination Officers (DCOs) had been directed to send him the progress report without fail, he added.
The chief minister directed the quarters concerned to give priority to the schemes of minority groups, as it was our religious, constitutional and moral obligation, and assured his government would protect the rights of minorities and there would be no discrimination because minorities had equal rights in our society.
Durrani directed the owners of hotels in areas where frontier offered attraction for tourists to ensure cleanliness and environmental-friendly atmosphere.
He said frontier government had planned small dams to store water resources to get self-sufficiency in food and agriculture produces.
Referring to the developmental activities in Peshawar, the chief minister said his government had been making efforts to overcome water scarcity here.
He said, " We have planned the provision of drinking water to Peshawar from Warsak Dam. Millions of rupees were being spent to put some safeguards against environmental degradation in Hayatabad. Work on various developmental schemes involving millions of rupees in various sectors in Peshawar had been put on ground, he added.
He assured the elected representatives that his government would continue to ensure accessibility to the government, improvement in social services, elimination of social imbalances, access to justice and over all development of the province. We were getting close to our targets and our collective efforts would yield dividend, he added.