Real action against terrorists to be taken in cities: Qadir Baloch

ISLAMABAD: Minister for States and Frontier Regions (Safron) Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch on Wednesday said that real action would be taken against terrorists in the cities of the country. He said that the phase wise rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their areas would be started in mid-February.
Addressing a press conference here, the minister said that the process would be started in the second or third week of the next month and it would take around one year.He said rehabilitation of around two million IDPs would cost Rs100 billion and all-out efforts were being made to raise funds for the process.
Abdul Qadir said unfortunately the plight of IDPs could not be highlighted in an effective manner besides mobilising the people to help them due to the sit-ins. He said the IDPs rendered supreme sacrifices for the better future of the next generation and it was the prime responsibility of the government and the people to rehabilitate them in a decent manner.
The minister said that reconstruction phase would also require billions of rupees and it was not easy task to arrange such a huge amount for this noble purpose.He urged philanthropists and other people to come forward and join hands to rebuild hospitals, schools and other facilities in tribal areas.
He said the December 16 tragedy united the nation and all the political parties were on the same page now to root out the menace of terrorism from the country.Regarding the Afghan refugees, the minister said that efforts were being made to send back all the Afghan refugees by December and modalities were also being finalised with all stakeholders, including UNHCR and Afghan government for their honourable return.“We have been hosting millions of Afghan refugees for the last 35 years and they would be returned honourably,” he said.