Arrangements being finalised for IDPs return

PESHAWAR: Arrangements are being finalised for the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Bara, Khyber Agency, to their homes as the displaced families would be provided transportation charges along with compensation package of Rs25,000.
The Fata Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two telecommunication companies, Mobilink and Telenor, for payment to the IDPs through subscriber identification module (SIM) and automated teller machine (ATM).
Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Fata Muhammad Azam Khan, officials of the political administration and elders of Khyber Agency attended the signing ceremony at the Governor’s House.
Talking to reporters, the governor said that return of displaced families would start in mid-February and they would receive payment for the transportation within a couple of days.All the 80,000 displaced families from the area would be sent back honourably and payment for transportation would be made through mobile SIMs, he added.
He said plains of Bara tehsil had been cleared of militants and protection of life and property of the people would be ensured at all costs.He said that not only the damaged infrastructure was being restored but the commercial activities in Bara would be revived and it would be once again turned into a trade and business centre.
The governor said compensation of Rs400,000 would be provided for each completely destroyed house and shop while the partially damaged house would be compensated by Rs160,000.
A survey of the damages would be completed soon so that the affectees are provided compensation, he said.The governor said transportation amount would be Rs10,000 per family. Earlier, director general FDMA had announced Rs8,000 as transportation charges.
To a question, Sardar Mahtab said the Rs25,000 as compensation package would be paid through ATMs for which opening of new bank accounts would not be needed.The payment is being made in a transparent way and it is meant to protect IDPs from complication and hardships of standing in queues, he added.
To a query, the governor said return of IDPs to North Waziristan would begin in March. “However, it would depend on the assurance by tribal elders if they term the situation suitable for the return of the displaced families,” he added.
Earlier, FDMA head Ikramullah said that arrangements were almost final for the repatriation of IDPs to Bara. “The payment of transportation charges would be started in a couple of days. The compensation would also be paid shortly and payment would be made through SIM and ATM, respectively,” he stated.
He said restoration of infrastructure had been launched. “All the damaged buildings of schools, health facilities and other infrastructure would soon be restored to the satisfaction of the local population,” he added.