Talking to media men in a press briefing, Mian Iftikhar said that sphere of the scheme would be extended to eight districts including Swat, Lower Dir, Chitral, DI Khan, Mardan, Swabi, Abbottabad and Haripur besides facilitating traditional artisans of Peshawar, Swabi and Nowshera.

Secretary Information, Hazmat Hanif Orakzai, Director Culture, Perviaz Khan Sabatkhel and concerned officials were also present on the occasion.

He said that the strength of the artisans would be increased from 10-23 and announced to double the fund of the scheme to 300 million rupees.

The newly included in the list of the artisans are hairdressers, beauticians, tailors, handicrafts, wax printing, calligraphy, drycleaners, musical instrumentalists, traditional food, jeweler, Khaddi, copper work, music instrumentals and stone crafting.

The minister said the artisans of the districts would be furnished with loan amounting from 50,000 to 100,000 rupees that would be payable on easy installment within a period of three years, adding the first three months would be exempted from payments.

Information minister said that a handsome amount of Rs. 150 million for the year 2011-12 was allocated for the program by the cabinet while the scheme would be accomplished with the combined efforts of Finance Department, Culture Department and Bank of Khyber.