Dams and gas areas may get big share of profit, royalty: NWFP

NWFP Finance Minister Shah Raz Khan has said the provincial government is seriously considering allocating a big share received in head of hydel net profit, royalty on gas and oil for the development of the areas where the dams are located or from where gas and oil is being produced.
He said the local government has been allowed to carry out their development projects through project committees. He stated this while addressing a delegation of town/tehsil Naib Nazis of NWFP led by Israrullah, President Town/Tehsil Naib Nazimeen Forum, NWFP in the Conference Room of the Civil Secretariat here on Wednesday.
The meeting was also attended by Secretary Local Council Board Rehmat Ghazi, Special Secretary Finance, Aurangzeb Haq and Director Decentralisation Support Programme Hifzur Rehman.
He said provincial government believed in justice and fair play and we are of the opinion that the areas where dams were located or from where gas, oil, marble etc; were produced would be given a share from the royalty for development of those areas.
He said this decision would go a long way for the uplift and prosperity of the people of the area where dams ie Warsak Dam, Tarbela Dam, Jabban Power House, Dargai Power House, Malakand-III Power House and areas from where gas and oil is produced ie Shakardara, Gurguri, Makori or marble rich areas of Buner district.
Shah Raz Khan also said the provincial government is interested in the uplift of backward areas of the province and a committee has been constituted to identify backward areas and devise formula for special development funds and grant in aid for such areas.
He said the provincial government is very keen to keep quality of the development projects and ensure transparency, therefore, it has been decided to allow local governments to carry out their projects through project committees.
He hoped that the elected local bodies representatives would ensure quality works through project committees and come up to the expectations of the people. He also directed immediate implementation of section 65 sub-clause IV of the NWFP Local Govt: Ordinance, 2001.
Earlier, President Town/Tehsil Naib Nazimeen Forum Israrullah informed the minister of the various problems and difficulties being faced by the town councils and thanked the minister for taking interest in the solution to their problems. He also lauded the efforts of the MMA government for achieving the goal of getting hydel net profit for the province.