Fata Development: NA body recommends six schemes worth Rs 1 billion

National Assembly Standing Committee on States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Monday recommended for inclusion of six major schemes of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), worth over Rs 1 billion, in Public Sector Development Program 2018-19. The meeting was held here at the Parliament House with MNA Muhammad Jamal-ud-Din in the chair.
After having detailed discussion, the committee approved the following six major schemes for the FATA: (i) clean drinking water schemes in South Waziristan Agency (estimated cost Rs 500 million); (ii) 200 kilometres jeep-able track in hilly areas of Mehsud areas of South Waziristan Agency; (iii) construction of 15 kilometres black top road from Chalwashtai to Mantoi, South Waziristan Agency (estimated cost Rs 150 million); (iv) construction of 60 kilometres black top road from Jandola, FR Tank, to Gambila Bridge, Lakki Marwat; (v) construction of 15 kilometres black top road from main Karikot Road to Kalotai, tehsil Bermal (estimated cost Rs 150 million) and; (vi) construction of 20 kilometres black top road from main Angoor Ada Road to Khangai, tehsil Bermal (estimated cost Rs 200 million).
The committee recommended the abovementioned projects should be included in the Public Sector Development Programme for Financial Year 2018-19. The committee also discussed the problems being faced by Malakand Levy regarding their issues of their salaries, pensions, accommodations and training centre.
The committee members recommended to the Ministry of SAFRON to look into the problems faced by the Levy and bring salaries and allowances of Malakand Levy at par with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police.
The committee also discussed the Mineral Policy of FATA in detail. The committee recommended to the FATA Secretariat to compensate the families of deceased workers who died during work at mines, and also take measures to extend the Labor Act and Social Security Act to the FATA.