Centre to support KP in Malakand rebuilding
PESHAWAR:
The federal government has pledged funds for reconstruction and rehabilitation activities in the militancy-scarred Malakand Division, said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Finance, Engineer Mohammad Humayun Khan, on Sunday.
Addressing a post-budget press conference here, he said that the federal government is contacting donor agencies for the purpose.
The finance minister was joined by KP Minister of Information, Mian Iftikhar Hussein, Additional Chief Secretary, Ghulam Dastagir Akhtar, and secretaries of different departments. He said the federal government has so far provided Rs2 billion for construction and rehabilitation work in Malakand, while Rs22 billion more are expected soon. He added that in case of failure in getting foreign assistance, the provincial government will cut down on its own Annual Development Programme (ADP), to divert funds for reconstruction in the terrorism-torn area.
The minister dispelled the impression that the budget is a jugglery of words, saying that after even excluding non-cash transaction worth Rs85 billion, the total volume of the budget will remain Rs208 billion as compared to Rs113 billion last year. While replying to a query regarding ‘Bacha Khan Khpal Rozgar’ Scheme, he said that a programme of Rs1 billion has been launched to overcome the growing unemployment in the province. He said interest-free loan ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 100,000 will be disbursed amongst those unemployed, and women will get a 30 per cent share, under the scheme.
The budget for the promotion of sports and tourism has been increased.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 14th, 2010.
The federal government has pledged funds for reconstruction and rehabilitation activities in the militancy-scarred Malakand Division, said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Finance, Engineer Mohammad Humayun Khan, on Sunday.
Addressing a post-budget press conference here, he said that the federal government is contacting donor agencies for the purpose.
The finance minister was joined by KP Minister of Information, Mian Iftikhar Hussein, Additional Chief Secretary, Ghulam Dastagir Akhtar, and secretaries of different departments. He said the federal government has so far provided Rs2 billion for construction and rehabilitation work in Malakand, while Rs22 billion more are expected soon. He added that in case of failure in getting foreign assistance, the provincial government will cut down on its own Annual Development Programme (ADP), to divert funds for reconstruction in the terrorism-torn area.
The minister dispelled the impression that the budget is a jugglery of words, saying that after even excluding non-cash transaction worth Rs85 billion, the total volume of the budget will remain Rs208 billion as compared to Rs113 billion last year. While replying to a query regarding ‘Bacha Khan Khpal Rozgar’ Scheme, he said that a programme of Rs1 billion has been launched to overcome the growing unemployment in the province. He said interest-free loan ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 100,000 will be disbursed amongst those unemployed, and women will get a 30 per cent share, under the scheme.
The budget for the promotion of sports and tourism has been increased.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 14th, 2010.