Governor says displaced persons return process to complete by end of May

KHAR (Bajaur Agency): Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said on Monday the return process of the Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) would be completed by the end of May as peace was fast restoring to these areas.

“Return and resettlement of TDPs and provision of basic facilities, including education, health and infrastructure development are top priorities of the government. Peace has been restored to most of the areas in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) due to the sacrifices rendered by the tribal people and security forces,” he said while addressing a tribal jirga here.

The governor said almost two million TDPs from tribal agencies would return with honour to native areas by the end of the next month. Lauding the sacrifices rendered by the tribal people, he said the Fata badly suffered due to militancy and the government acknowledged the sacrifices the people rendered for the just cause of the nation.

Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said every effort would be made to maintain lasting peace in Fata as development was linked to peace.The governor said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had constituted a commission headed by Senator Sartaj Aziz which had visited six tribal agencies so far to solicit suggestions and recommendations from the tribesmen for the future of Fata. He assured the reforms and future of Fata would be decided in the light of the aspirations of the local population. In response to the demands made by Member National Assembly (MNA) Shahabuddin Khan and Senator Hidayatullah, the governor said work on widening and improving Khar-Barang road and Mohmand-Bajaur road would be started soon. Iqbal Zafar Jhagra directed preparation of the feasibility report for construction of a tunnel at Takht on Khar-Barang road and a road linking the Fata to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor so that the people of tribal belt could get benefit of this vital project.

Regarding the electricity problem, he said in the light of the prime minister’s vision, the issue of power shortage would be overcome by 2018 and new gridstation would be built in the tribal region. Later, formally opening the children enrolment campaign, the governor said an education emergency has been declared in Fata to achieve 100 per cent literacy rate in the tribal areas particularly Bajaur Agency. He enrolled three children to launch the drive.

The governor also paid a surprise visit to the Agency Headquarters Hospital, enquired after the health of patients and directed the doctors and paramedical staff to facilitate the patients. He also laid floral wreath at the Yadgar-e-Shuhada or the martyrs memorial.

The governor spent a hectic day and met different delegations, including representatives of traders, Islahi committee and Bajaur Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He assured them of solution to their problems and promised to meet their demands.

Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said the entire nation held in high esteem the sacrifices of the tribal people as they stood by the security forces to stamp out militancy from the region. Members National Assembly Bismillah Khan and Shahabuddin, Senator Hidayatullah, Additional Chief Secretary of Fata Muhammad Aslam Kamboh, Brigadier Zia-ul-Islam of the Frontier Corps and Political Agent Abdul Amir Khattak were also present.

Bismillah Khan presented traditional turban, Malik Abdul Aziz a copy of the Holy Quran while Nizamuddin gifted a gun, Malik Qadir Khan a sword and Malik Hifzur Rahman a carpet to the governor.

Earlier, the elders demanded special development package for Bajaur, including establishment of medical and cadet colleges, roads widening and restoration, appointment of specialist doctors at AHQ hospital, recruitment of teachers to remove the shortage, tube-wells for irrigation, a new high power gridstation and inclusion of Bajaur in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.