MANSEHRA, June 5: The ANP-led provincial collation government has decided to wind up the Rs6 billion Barani Areas Development Project, initiated in 10 districts of the NWFP and a tribal agency, two years ahead of its scheduled time, it is learnt.

The project had been launched after two years of delay in 2003, instead of 2001, with the financial assistance of Rs4.5 billion of the Asian Development Bank and the International Fund for Agriculture Development. The provincial government’s contribution was Rs1.5 billion.

The project had been launched in Mansehra, Battagram, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Haripur, Kohat, Hangu, Banuo, Lakki Marwat, Karak and the Orakzai Agency. Schemes under the project included natural resource management and infrastructure.

Sources said the provincial government, after realising that the interest rate on the project’s financial assistance was too high compared to other social sectors’ loans, had decided in principle to wind it up by December 2008, instead of 2010.