CM for early implementation mechanism for mainstreaming tribal areas following KP-Fata merger      

PESHAWAR: Caretaker Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Justice Retd. Dost Muhammad has said that the extension of governance structure of the province to FATA, introduction of transparent governance there, the extension of laws and rules and regulations and above all the policy implementation mechanism for mainstreaming of FATA are some of the challenges that needed full time attention.

The sooner the tribal get justice, the better it is in the interest of the whole country, he added. He was addressing a high level meeting in the backdrop of FATA merger into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and formation of administrative units (consolidated divisions) at Chief Minister Secretariat Peshawar.

Chief Secretary Azam Khan, Additional Chief Secretary FATA, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Secretary Health and others attended.

Chief Secretary gave details about his meetings for implementation on the FATA reforms adding that a committee headed by Law Minister has been formed which would form the future strategy and prepare TORs. The meeting focused on the Nizam-e-Adl, FC, tax collection and revenue etc and made a number of decisions.

Dost Muhammad in the background of merger of FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa agreed in principle to issue the administrative units viz consolidated divisions and added that the actual problem would be the resources. As long as the federal government did not transfer resources, the reforms process would continue recording a slow pace.

Caretaker Chief Minister said that the government had to make a number of decisions that included the new recruitments, the creation of different posts, the infrastructure development and above all the holding of local bodies elections in October 2018.

Dost Muhammad asked the relevant quarters to meet the tribal Mashraan and tell them the utility of laws and the harms in the absence of laws. The tribals are fully conscience to the unfolding situation and hopefully would cooperate. For durable peace, FATA need census and land record that will guide the future development of FATA, he added.

Later, talking to the trading community Justice Dost Muhammad assured for realistic policies and steps to give relief to the trading community. The government would certainly give them incentives but the trading community would have to give a reciprocal response and act as a Momin in mitigating the problems of the poor.

The delegation led by Zahid Shinwari of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industries also had representation from Kohat, Mardan, Charsadda and Swabi Chambers.

Caretaker Chief Minister on the problems raised by the trading community assured to get proper briefing on the load sheding, provision of suigas, implementation on industrial policy, establishment of Kohat Industrial Zone and property tax etc and assured to give relief within the parameters of law.

The trading community should cooperate in the promotion of giving tax adding that we do not have the structurally flawed associative nature of problems but certainly we have a different kind of problems that could easily be resolved through our commitment, dedication and the sincerity. Today, all developed nations had a developed stage of tax culture and we need to have the same that will resolve all our problems.