Fata DA identifies sites for 120 potential small dams

Fata Development Authority has identified 120 potential small dams sites in Fata whereas Dargai Pal Dam in South Waziristan Agency has been completed, besides the feasibility of Baran Dam, and 13 other small dams. This was stated during a presentation to Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Barrister Masood Kausar on the Fata Development Authority; its characteristics, mandated functions, mode and scope of work, achievements and development programme for the current financial year.
It was further told that FDA was also working on a number of projects for provision of electricity through solar energy to some 450 far flung areas of Fata. The FDA, as stated, was working on corporate lines to lay foundation for public-private partnership with decentralised decision making and focus on development of Human and natural resources in Fata. "It has pure development functions with no operational and maintenance responsibility", said Attaullah Chief Executive FDA while making the presentation.
He said that FDA had been mandated to assess potential for economic development in Fata, work for industrial, mineral, water and power and skill development besides SME financing, tourism and township development. In the Mineral Sector 85 percent area of Fata had been geologically explored where prospects for a number of precious minerals, including oil, gas, gold, copper, manganese, chromites, granite, Bentonite, gypsum and Bastnasite had been positive and promising. In the industrial sector, work on Rs 351 million Marble city projects in Mohmand Agency was in progress where infrastructure development was going on, on 350 acres of land acquired for the city.
One industrial estate planned in FR Kohat to develop a hunting and sporting arms cluster, and coal Briquetting plant suggested in Orakzai and Kurram Agencies, where huge coal reserves and many coal mines are available. The Governor was also informed about Fata Youth Skill Development programme and said that under this programme 2,384 Fata youth had been provided institution based training. Similarly 7,775 women trained in embroidery, knitting and tailoring in 70 women skill development centres established throughout Fata for this purpose.
About the FDA Annual Development Programme, the Governor was informed that Rs 1390.442 million had been allocated for development, out of which Rs 708.5 million so far released and Rs 238.936 utilised. The FDA development allocation is 10 percent of the total Fata development outlay and is resource specific. 95 percent funds are allocated for ongoing schemes and 9 schemes will be completed during the year.
Governor Masood Kausar during discussions on different points stressed the need for maximum community participation in the development process so as the people could be acquainted with what had been going on for their welfare and socio-economic uplift. He described the mineral wealth in Fata great and valuable natural asset, which if properly and fully exploited would change the fate of the people of Fata. He also stressed the need for purposeful linkages with the relevant universities in research and exploration of minerals. As regard skill development projects, the Governor said that market oriented trades and skills should be preferred. "If we provide Fata youth with the kind of training mostly needed in the market would place these trained and skill people in a better competition in the open market", the Governor observed.
He directed periodical review of development schemes and their effective monitoring. Chief Executive FDA Attaullah Khan, Secretary to Governor Sikander Qayyum, General Manager P&D FDA Zubair Asghar Qureshi, General Manager Technical and managers of relevant sectors attended the event.