NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani on Thursday disclosed that NWFP and Wapda have signed an agreement for resolution of the longstanding dispute on net profit on hydel power generation. Addressing the concluding session of the Livestock Investment 2005-06 here at a local hotel he said the dispute would be resolved through arbitration committee comprising of two members each from both parties.
Former Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Ajmal Mian is heading the committee to resolve the dispute in a period of six months.
He said that the provincial government was making all out efforts for the promotion and development of dairy, livestock and poultry sectors in the province. He said, the Annual Development Programme (ADP) of the provincial government for financial year 2005-06 included the establishment of two milk plants in Nowshera and D.I. Khan districts.
He said that investment in the sectors could generate thousands of employment opportunities and attaining self-sufficiency in livestock products.
He said that after coming into power in NWFP Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) has started work bringing changes in all departments and sectors. He said that first efforts were made for improvement in education sector due to which he said enrollment has registered tremendous increase and the provincial government was faced with shortage of schools. However, the education budget was increased to resolve the problem.
Chief Minister said for better education, good health is a must, so the provincial government follows a new health policy under which one A-grade hospital each would be established in every district. He said that the establishment of an A-grade hospital in every district would help minimise rush on the big hospitals of the province and therewouldbe no need to go to other districts for getting better medical treatment.
He said that for alleviation of poverty and eradicating unemployment, the government is now focusing on the establishment of industries.
"A first ever industrial policy has been announced comprising of the proposals and recommendations of the both public and private sector."
Durrani said, the promotion of industries and elimination of unemployment required the development of agricultural sector, saying NWFP has vast fertile land and irrigation arrangements would place it on a sound footing. He said that after asearch of two years, the provincial government has identified 20 sites for construction of small dams, which would irrigate 85,000-acre agricultural land. The projects have been included in the PSDP of the federal government.
Similarly, he said that Tank Zam, which would irrigate one lakh acre agricultural land, was also included in the programme of the federal government.
He said that the completion of the projects would usher in a developmental revolution in the province. Furthermore, he said that First Left Canal project would irrigate 280,000-acre land, after which, there would be no shortage of wheat for the flour mill industry in the province.
The provincial government would continue supporting small farmers, livestock and poultry sectors. He said that three Buffalo colonies would be established in Peshawar, D.I. Khan and Mardan. The projects are included in the ADP and would be completed in the current financial year.
"We had never made the shortage of funds an excuse for not launching development schemes and have directed the department concerned to facilitate the stakeholders at their doorsteps. He said that the vaccines for various livestock diseases are available at union council level.
He said that the provincial government is planning to provide free of cost buffaloes, cows and goat to widows and orphans to provide employment opportunity for the poor.
He said that during his recent visit to United States, he met representatives of US chambers and had invited them for investment in the mineral sector of the province. He said that very soon a delegation of US investors is due in the city.
In response to demands for provision of loans to farming community, he said that Bank of Khyber (BoK) has been directed to simplify its lending procedure and also appealed other commercial banks to do the same. He said that the chance of default in small loans is nominal and is easily recoverable.
He said that the provincial government has issued no objection certificates (NoCs) for establishment of sugar mills, which would provide employment opportunities for thousands of youth.
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