ICT rural areas development in 2009-10: 126 new schemes worth Rs 1.3 billion proposed

[Naveed Yaseen]

* Government allocates Rs 351 million for ICT rural areas
development
* DHO proposes Rs 196 million schemes for strengthening of existing health services

By Fazal Sher

ISLAMABAD: Under the Islamabad Development Package (IDP), Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration has proposed 126 new development schemes worth of Rs 1.331 billion for the financial year budget 2009-10.

ICT Local Government and Rural Development Department (LGRD) has proposed these projects to be launched in the rural areas of Islamabad under IDP.

The ICT administration reviewed these schemes at a high level meeting on Wednesday, a senior official of ICT told Daily Times.

ICT Chief Commissioner Fazeel Asghar chaired the meeting, which was attended by Deputy Commissioner Asadullah Faiz, representatives of District Health Department, LGRD and Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), said the official.

The meeting was informed that the federal government had allocated Rs 351 million for the development of rural areas of Islamabad, said the official.

Different nation-building departments including District Health Office (DHO), ICT LGRD Department and FDE have proposed 126 new development schemes relating to construction of new and re-habilitation of old roads, pavements of streets and provision of water supply schemes in the rural areas.

DHO: ICT DHO has proposed many development schemes relating to strengthening of existing heath services in the rural areas at an estimated cost of Rs 196 million, he said. The official said these schemes included provision and improvement of water supply to some basic health units and rural health centres, procurement of laboratory equipments, procurement of five new ambulances for heath centres, construction of residential accommodation for lady doctors and paramedics for child mother health care facilities. He said the District Health Department had planned round the clock delivery and mother and child heath care services in the rural areas of Islamabad and for this purpose residence facilities for doctors and paramedics were a pre-requisite.

FDE: He said FDE had also proposed schemes relating to strengthening and up-gradation of existing school buildings in rural areas. These schemes include provision of water and electricity facilities and construction of boundary walls of some school buildings at an estimated cost of Rs 40 million.

Approval: The chief commissioner said he would check all the new proposed schemes and will give final approval in the next meeting after considering the urgent needs of local community and the government priorities.

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