Govt stepping up efforts to introduce Fata reforms

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has stepped up the efforts for introduction of Fata reforms since the committee, constituted for this purpose, has completed the important phase of consulting the people of South Waziristan in this regard.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has told visiting Governor KP Iqbal Zafar Jhagra on Friday that his government is very much alive to the needs for Fata reforms, and Fata’s future will be decided as per the wishes and popular will of the people, and no decision will be imposed on the tribesmen.

Governor Jhagra also had a meeting with President Mamnoon Hussain  after calling on the prime minister, who also spoke of the Fata reforms. The governor met the prime minister in PM House where the issues related to development of Fata were discussed in the course of meeting.

While appreciating the spirit of patriotism of tribal people, Prime Minister Nawaz said that tribal people had left their homes and native places for the great national cause, and their sacrifices would never go in vain. “It is my vision that the people of Fata should enjoy the same standard of living as enjoyed by the citizens of the rest of the country,” the prime minister added. 

Talking to the KP governor, the president said that Operation Zarb-e-Azb is progressing successfully, and it will continue till complete elimination of the last terrorist. The governor met the president at Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad.  

The president said that the government is committed to bringing Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) on par with other areas of the country by completing the ongoing development projects and providing socio-economic amenities to improve the standard of life of the people. President Mamnoon expressed the government’s resolve for timely repatriation and rehabilitation of Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) and said that the damaged infrastructure would be rebuilt and economic incentives would be provided for bringing the life back to normalcy in the region. 

KP Governor  Iqbal Zafar Jhagra briefed the president about matters relating to Fata and said that due to the effective Zarb-e-Azb Operation, normalcy is returning to the area and people are being facilitated and encouraged to return to their homes. 

Meanwhile Minster of State (MoS) for Communications Abdul Hakeem Baloch called on the prime minister at PM House on Friday. The status of ongoing as well as future development projects across the country were discussed in detail during the meeting.

The prime minister was briefed that utmost transparency has been ensured while initiating these Motorway projects without compromising upon their implementation within the stipulated time-line, as such, these infrastructure development projects worth Rs800 billion, including China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Projects, will be completed during the next two to three years.