FATA's merger with KP to be made smooth, successful at all costs

ISLAMABAD: Interim Minister for Law and Justice Syed Ali Zafar Saturday said the process to merge FATA in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) would be made smooth and successful at all costs.

The minister said this while chairing a meeting of the committee constituted by the Prime Minister for facilitating merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The meeting reviewed the decisions taken in the last meeting, said a press release.

Syed Ali Zafar said all immediate steps, including administrative, financial and judicial, must be undertaken for long term guidelines as the merger implementation process must be made successful.

The Minister for Law and Justice emphasised the need for achieving targets. He was briefed about particularly the administrative, legal, financial and legislative issues coming in the way of smooth transition regarding merger of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Syed Ali Zafar also constituted two sub-committees comprising officials from the ministries of Law, Interior and Finance to sort out financial matters as well as drafting rules and laws to facilitate the merger process.

The sub-committees have been tasked to present recommendations in regard to the viable solutions of various administrative and legal issues in detail in the upcoming meeting.

The Additional Chief Secretary KP also apprised the minister regarding the status of rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in their respective areas.

The meeting was attended by Secretary SAFRON, Secretary Planning, Representative of GHQ MO Directorate, ACS FATA, AS PM office, Secretary Finance KPK, KP Secretary Home and officials from Ministry of Law & Justice, Khyber Pakhtunkha, SAFRON Ministry, Ministry of Finance and Federal Bureau of Revenue.