Seven agri, livestock projects worth Rs4.20bln approved for erstwhileFata: Official.

PESHAWAR -- The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government has approved seven gigantic projects worth Rs4.20 billion to promote agriculture, livestock and fisheries sectors in erstwhileFata.

An Official of Agriculture and Livestock Department told reporter on Sunday that 10 new projects focusing on enhancement of meat and milk production, water conservation, livestock and dairy development have been prepared after consultation with all stakeholders to alleviate poverty and generate employment opportunities for the tribesmen. Out of these projects, seven were approved by the competant forum on which around Rs4. 20billion would be spent during current fiscal year.

The Government has expedited work on Accelerated Implementation Program (AIP) 2019-20 by approving four mega projects for which Rs665 million have been already released.

Similarly, PC-1 of the two gigantic projects worth Rs 12 billion has been prepared and were being sent to concerned forum for approval.

The department has achieved 92% success in the allotted targets pertaining to development and provision of services to people.

As per the department's report for financial year 2019-20, PC-1 of the 15 new projects have been developed out of which approval of 14 projects including 11 Public Sector Development Projects(PSDP) worth Rs 44 billion were taken and funds of 10 projects have been already released.

These PSDP and ADP funded projects include bringing improvements in watercourses at national level, protection of water resources in rainy areas, construction of small and medium dams, production of wheat, rice, oil, protection of calves, fattening of animals and promotion of trout fish farming in the province including merged areas.

Agriculture programs worth Rs1970million has been developed under AIP for erstwhileFata with main focus on enhancement of crops' productivity, producing of virus free seeds, solarization of tube-wells and building of small dams to bring its vast areas under agriculture cover.

The programs developed under AIP include Integrated Agricultural Development Program (IADP) worth Rs750 million, merged areas' contribution to the Prime Minister's National Agriculture Emergency Program (NAEP) with a proposed allocation of Rs 640 million, construction of small check dams and watercourses with a hafety amount of Rs580 million for the current fiscal year.

Under IADP, an inclusive program for production of virus free seeds would be launched in Kurrum and Orakzai tribal districts...