Senate Standing Committee on SAFRON has sought details of ongoing projects for rehabilitation of temporarily displaced people of erstwhile federally administered tribal areas (FATA) in the next meeting. Standing Committee met under chairmanship of Taj Muhammad Afridi here at parliament house on Monday.
Chairman committee sought details from Pakistan Engineering Council, Higher Education Commission, Pakistan Medical Dental Council and others regarding increasing quota for students of merged FATA in medial colleges and universities. He said that the committee would work for the welfare of the intelligent students under the legal and constitutional obligations defined by the state.
The officials of SAFRON informed the committee that the ministry had already asked Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) for quota increase for FATA students from 192 seats approved in 2017. They said that PMDC is yet to double the quota for FATA students in medical colleges. The committee directed PMDC to resolve quota issue of medical student of FATA in one week.
The officials of Pakistan Engineering Council said that the council has already issued notification to increase seats for FATA students in engineering colleges.
Member committee Muhammad Ayub said that all federal educational institutions must give due shares for youth of FATA so that they could proceed for higher education and play their role for the welfare of their areas.
The officials of Zari Tarqiati Bank of Pakistan informed the committee that Rs 350 million worth of agriculture loans was disbursed in FATA and PATA. Chairman committee directed the bank officials that maximum relief should be given to poor farmers of FATA as their crops were destroyed in prolong war against terrorism. The committee also asked TESCO to resolve the long hours load shedding in the areas of FATA. The committee was informed that the situation would become better after installation of grid stations in Bajaur Agency and Bara.