Development budget: Provincial ministers, secretary count past successes

Sarhad Development Authority funds increased to Rs338 million.

PESHAWAR: In the past four and a half years, the Awami National Party-led government has increased funding for the industrial sector to facilitate development, said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Secretary for Industries Fazal Karim Khattak at a press briefing on Friday.

The budget for Sarhad Development Authority, a prime body working on industrial development in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, has gone up to Rs338 million from Rs23 million in 2007-08, Khattak added.

He further said the government has acquired 1,000 acres of land for establishing an industrial zone in district Nowshera. Land has also been allotted (107 acres) for establishing an industrial estate in district Manshera.

Funds for the Small Industries Development Board have swelled from Rs109 million to Rs1.3 billion in the incumbent government’s tenure, he claimed.

The government has been successful in getting a World Bank grant for Economic Revitalisation of war-affected Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Fata, which was initially executed after the military operation in Malakand division, Khattak said.



“The government has introduced a long-term credit facility for promoting industrial activities in the province, for which Rs1 billion have been allocated.”

Regarding achievements in the mines and mineral sector, provincial minister Mehmood Zeb Khan said the government had received Rs650 million against the projected amount of Rs600 million during 2011-2012. Similarly, a target of Rs620 million had been set for the mines sector in 2013, and Rs280 million have been received so far.

The government has also increased funds in the provincial Annual Development Programme for technical education from Rs500 million to Rs1.8 billion.

Information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that although the situation is not favourable for the economy, the government has taken several initiatives to revive industries and businesses.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2013.