Over Rs1 billion being spent in Kurram Agency

Communications, agriculture, health and education receiving bulk of funding.

PESHAWAR: Scores of development projects and schemes worth more than Rs1 billion have been initiated in flood and militancy-hit Kurram Agency.

The government has set Rs1.37 billion for uplift in the “Valley of Chinars”, out of the Rs15 billion approved for Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) Annual Development Programme 2010-11.

The projects will focus on rebuilding educational institutes, hospitals, basic health units, roads and schemes related to forestry, livestock, agriculture and clean drinking water, official sources told APP on Sunday.

The development strategy includes improving existing infrastructure and building new roads and bridges. The government will also focus on improving existing education, health and drinking water facilities.

Official sources said the government is paying special attention to rebuilding schools and colleges damaged by militants and has launched several projects for their repair and reconstruction.

The buildings of Government College for Women and Government College for Boys in Lower Kurram and the Government Girls Degree College in Alizai will be upgraded to ensure provision of quality education to children living nearby, a government official said.

The primary schools will be upgraded to middle level and community schools will be made all over the agency, the official added.

The government wants to open up the remote and inaccessible areas of Kurram Agency to potential business ventures. For this they are planning on widening and blacktopping various roads connecting different areas of the agency to the major highways.

For provision of clean drinking water, the government has already completed several water supply schemes. Tube wells have also been set up.

The government will set up a farm centre in the agency to try and maximise the amount of land under cultivation. People will be encouraged to adapt modern agriculture practices enabling them to grow even off-season vegetables (thus increasing their earning potential), the official said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2011.