Integration of merged Fata districts ensures equal rights to tribal people: Shibli

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz on Monday said that mainstreaming of the erstwhile FATA was a long-term project and integration of merged districts aimed at ensuring equal rights to tribal people.

On completion of one year of provincial assembly elections in the merged tribal areas, he addressed the media and assured that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government with its full commitment would continue its efforts for it.

He said that various concrete steps had been taken to bring merged tribal districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa at par with other parts of the country.

The minister said the extension of the courts' jurisdiction to the merged districts of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa would make provision of justice to the people easy.

He said 28,000 Levies and Khasadars had been merged into the police. He said that the FATA Secretariat had been abolished so that the provincial government established its governance system.

Senator Shibli Faraz said the history's biggest fund amounting 100 billion rupees annually was announced for the merged districts for 10 years. He said the PTI government's flagship programme Sehat Insaf Card had been introduced, offering the locals of the merged tribal areas free health facilities.

The minister said 1,297 posts had been created in the health sector, while 4,495 posts had been created for education. He said projects had been launched to provide clean drinking water at schools.

He said several schools had been provided buses. He said a Mining Act had been enforced in the merged tribal areas to tap the mineral resources of the area in a transparent manner. Replying to a question, the minister said that erstwhile FATA was located along Pak-Afghan border; therefore, "we cannot compromise on security of the area".

He said the role played by the armed forces in the tribal areas was commendable. He said participation of the general public in general election shows that majority of the population was happy with this change. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz also tweeted; inclusion of the people of erstwhile FATA into the mainstream democratic process signifies a new, strong and prosperous Pakistan.

He said the tribesmen were very close to the heart of Prime Minister Imran Khan, and he had a firm resolve to empower them. The minister congratulated the brave and valiant people of erstwhile FATA on completion of one year of democratic process there.

He said giving the tribesmen the right to have lawyer, argument and appeal was a change. He hoped that in the days to come, they would have more good and opportunities to progress.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020