Development projects PM directs early release of Rs15bn to Fata

ZAHEER ABBASI

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has directed the Ministry of Finance and Planning Commission to ensure that an amount of Rs15 billion for development projects is released to Fata during the current fiscal year.

Sources said the Members of National Assembly from Fata protested against release of only Rs 1 billion during the first two quarters of the total Rs 15 billion allocated in the budget for development projects in Fata for the current fiscal year (2011-12). The government has released only Rs 74 billion for development schemes, 24 percent of the total Rs 290 billion PSDP for the current fiscal year.

The MNAs from Fata called on Prime Minister Gilani to inquire about the health of President Zardari and express their best wishes. They also raised the issue of slow release of funds by the Finance Ministry and Planning Commission for development projects in Fata. Gilani thanked the MNAs saying that the President had now shifted out of ICU and was making satisfactory progress as far as his health was concerned. The MNAs who accompanied Munir Ahmed Orakzai assured the Prime Minister that all members of Fata would extend their full support to the government.

Gilani appreciated their gesture saying that their support was important for democracy, federation and war on terror, in particular. Gilani said the development of Fata was priority of the government and directed the Ministry of Finance and the Planning Commission for holding a meeting early next week to release funds for completion of Fata projects.

He said the representatives of Fata Secretariat should also be invited to the meeting to help complete procedural formalities between the Federal Government and the Fata Secretariat for speedy execution of development projects.

The Planning Commission and the Ministry of Finance pointed out that the release of funds for Fata was relatively in time as compared to other parts of the country but were advised to increase the quantum of releases in the remaining months of the current fiscal year.

The legislators appreciated the steps taken by the government for the promulgation of reforms in Fata and urged strengthening institutional mechanism required to implement the reforms in Frontier Crime Regulation (FCR).

The Prime Minister also approved 153 vacancies for the Fata Tribunals, which would surely make justice to the people speedy and inexpensive.

MNAs from Fata who met the Prime Minister included Minister for Saffron Eng Shaukat Ullah Khan, Haji Munir Khan Orakzai MNA, Malik Bilal Rehman MNA, Sajid Hussain Turi MNA, Jawad Hussain MNA, Muhammad Kamran Khan MNA, Maulana Noor ul Haq Qadri MNA, Hamidullah Jan Afridi MNA and Zafar Baig Betanni MNA.

Federal Minister for Finance, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Senator Syeda Sughra Hussain Imam and senior officials of the Planning and the Ministry of Finance were also present in the meeting.