By Umar Cheema
A survey jointly conducted by the WB and ADB sets out telling details of damages done in particular sectors in militancy-hit areas. The loss estimation was carried out in Swat, Shangla, Buner, Dir Upper, Dir Lower districts, and Bajaur and Mohmand agencies. The survey was conducted before the military operation initiated. The material loss assessed includes the sectors like agriculture, educational institutions, health facilities, housing, shops and roads.
The loss details presented before the Parliamentary Committee on National Security disclose that Malakand Division has 5,347 schools and 409 of them have been damaged, costing public exchequer a loss of Rs989 million. Out of 992 schools in Fata, 64 have been perished, costing an estimated loss of Rs237.32 million.
Number of housing units damaged in above-said seven areas are 21,846, inflicting loss to the tune of Rs6,619 million. Malakand Division has 217 health facilities and 63 of them were destroyed by the militants, causing a loss of Rs232 million.
The Fata’s 28 health facilities, out of 173, have been damaged inflicting a loss of Rs326 million. Agriculture sector that covers livestock, crop, irrigation and fisheries suffered a loss of greater magnitude and has been estimated at Rs62 billion. The shops damaged in the seven areas have caused a loss of Rs386.3 million to the owners.
As far as the status of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) is concerned, the Parliamentary Committee on National Security was informed that the officials have registered 43,007 families fleeing South Waziristan. As regards the school facilities for the children of displaced families, the committee was informed that second shifts are being reserved in all designated educational institutions of Dera Ismail Khan and Tank and the services of the teachers will be incentivised.
Moreover, existing healthcare institutions of both the districts are also catering for the IDPs. Funds will be transferred to local health departments for medicines and supplies. Mobile hospitals currently lying with Fata secretariat are being placed at the disposal of health departments of DI Khan and Tank for the provision of medical facilities for the IDPs.
Fata secretariat, the committee was told, has committed Rs12 million for the installation of three tube wells in district Tank. Also, the transport facilities to incoming IDPs from Waziristan have been arranged and shuttle service provided at Razmak and entry point at Tank for DI Khan.