Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra Wednesday approved Rs18.232 billion FATA Annual Development Programme (ADP) for 2016-17. He accorded the approval at a meeting in the Governor’s House here on Wednesday, said a handout. FATA Additional Chief Secretary Mohammad Aslam Kamboh, Principal Secretary to Governor Sikandar Qayyum, Secretary Planning and Development FATA Shakil Qadir, Secretary SSD FATA Waqarul Hassan and other officials attended the meeting. The governor directed the officials of the FATA Secretariat to ensure the transparency and quality of the ongoing development schemes and construction work. Briefing the meeting about the salient features of the ADP, Secretary Planning and Development Shakil Qadir said a total of Rs18.232 billion had been allocated for completion of 997 schemes, including 773 ongoing and 224 new ones. He said Rs14.9 billion had been set aside for the ongoing schemes and Rs 3.2 billion for the new schemes. The participants were told that the ADP was based on realistic figures, with concentration of timely execution of the development schemes, mainly the completion of the ongoing schemes within the stipulated periods. The meeting reviewed the progress on the ongoing schemes in the tribal areas and overall position of the ADP for the current financial year and expressed satisfaction at the achievements. Addressing the meeting, the governor said the main objective of every project should be the improvement of the quality of life, especially in the poverty-hit tribal belt. He emphasised that planning should be based on the needs of the tribesmen. The governor asked authorities to play an effective role and conduct field visits on a regular basis.