The NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has appealed to the international community to help stabilise democracy in the region as successive military rule has not let the democratic set-up to take roots. If the democratic government is allowed to run affairs in Pakistan very soon injustices will come to an end.
The international community should realise that when they do not like dictatorship for themselves then why they opt it for others.
Public must have the choice to elect rulers and make them accountable otherwise efforts for the elimination of poverty will prove a futile exercise.
He was talking to a ten-member delegation of Department of International Development (DFID) headed by UK Secretary of State, Hilary Benn.
Provincial Ministers, Additional Chief Secretary were also present on the occasion.
The Chief Minister said that the MMA represent the public as they voted us to power. He said that it is our responsibility to work for the public welfare. We would not let down the people because we have connection with them.
Soon after assuming power he visited all the districts and asked the people about their requirement that were shaped in the annual development programme (ADP) as being elected government we were accountable to the people.
The Chief Minister said that to alleviate poverty there should be direct arrangement for the provision of funds to the districts because involving the centre as a gatekeeper in such arrangement cause delay.
Referring to the devolution process the Chief Minister said that it enhanced the spending because at all districts twelve departments have been created.
Moreover devolution had taken place from province to gross roots level. However, power and authority from centre to provinces were yet to be devolved.
He said that the concurrent list should be devolved so that the provinces could have a fiscal space to implement public welfare activity. "I had raised this issue at the federal cabinet", he added.
Durrani termed improved law and order situation as prerequisite for good governance and overall development of the people.
Our people suffered a lot because of Afghan War. We have to look after 3 million Afghan refugees, though we have limited resources. At the outset the international community helped us in looking after the Afghan refugees but after the dismemberment of USSR we were left in the lurch.
Still we are looking after the Afghan refugees but how long it should be perceived by the international community. He said that we should be given resources because of our sacrifices.
The chief minister also highlighted his government priorities adding that his government has raised 100 percent the funding of education and health sectors.
Education facilities at district level and secondary health care have been improved at district level.
Education up to matric had been declared free and uniform and books up to primary level would be provided besides education up to middle has been made compulsory.
In 19 districts A-grade hospitals were being established. A Femal Medical College, A Female University and a separate Sports Directorate were being established.
These were the facilities and the rights for empowerment of the women folk that the MMA government had taken within a short span of one year. We are focusing on female literacy rate in the province.
Durrani said that his government has maintained strict financial discipline and enhanced revenue collection.
However, the MMA's government was concentrating to constructs small dams to bring hundreds of thousands of barren land of Southern districts under cultivation which were real poverty alleviation arrangements.
He said that this would not only lead us to gain food autarky but would also generate job, alleviate poverty and bring prosperity.
To control environmental hazard, the government has planned to raise forests in various districts.
He also brought under discussion Malakand III project that would produce 81 Mega watt electricity and contribute rupees one billion to the provincial exchequer.
The provincial cabinet has already given a nod to Khayal power project that would produce 130 MW electricity and would contribute Rs 1150 million to the provincial exchequer.
Regarding Hasba Act the Chief Minister said that certain elements were sending wrong signals to the international community about it. It would like be a Jirga Institution that would arbitrate between the conflicting parties and would indicate solution to minor disputes. He said that it would reduce burden on the judiciary.
There would be ombudsmen to be supported by two senior lawyers, two senior journalists, and two bureaucrats and if the decision of the ombudsmen was not acceptable to any party then it has the option to go to the court.
He said that those sending wrong signals about it were scared of the MMA's reform agenda because it would darken their political future.
Hillary Benn UK State Secretary and other members of his mission appreciated the good governance, improved law and order situation of the province. He also asked certain questions about the government performance, priorities, poverty alleviation and Hasba Act.
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