189 killed in Kurram so far, KP cabinet told

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet was briefed on Monday about the implementation of the decisions aimed at ensuring sustainable peace in Kurram district. An official handout said that Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur chaired the 24th meeting of the provincial cabinet that discussed various matters.

Besides cabinet members, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Additional chief secretaries, Senior Member Board of Revenue, administrative secretaries and advocate general Khyber Pakhtunkhwa attended the meeting.

It was informed that since October last year, 189 people had lost their lives in various incidents of unrest in Kurram. However, due to the continuous efforts of the provincial government, a peace agreement was reached to restore peace and normalcy in the region. The deadline for complete removal of all bunkers and de-weaponisation has been set for March 23. The cabinet accorded approval for Rs.98.3 million to procure explosives for dismantling the remaining illegal bankers.

To ensure uninterrupted supply of essential goods to the people of the restive district, nine convoys comprising 718 vehicles have so far been sent to Kurram leaving no space for the shortage of essential commodities in the area. It was further told that government launched a helicopter service to and from Kurram.

So far, 153 flights have been carried out using two helicopters that provided air transport facilities to approximately 4,000 people. Besides this, 19,000 kilograms of essential medicines have been supplied to Kurram to cater to the medical needs of the patients. It was further revealed that in line with the cabinet’s decision and the peace agreement, the demolishing of illegal bunkers in Kurram was going on and 151 bunkers have been dismantled to date.

To enhance security on Kurram Road, the cabinet has already approved the establishment of a special security force, with work in progress to set up both temporary and permanent security posts.

A total of 120 security posts will be established along the road, and approval has been granted for the recruitment of 407 personnel. These security posts will be equipped with essential supplies worth Rs764 million. The cabinet approved the designs of this security post and the release of funds for the whole scheme.

The chief minister directed the relevant officials to establish such security posts at the spots from where attacks from long distances can be monitored and countered to secure the life and property of the people on a permanent basis.

The cabinet reviewed plans for the restoration of the damaged infrastructure in Kurram. The briefing indicated that the rehabilitation of the destroyed Bagan Bazaar is estimated to cost Rs480 million, and work on the project will commence soon.

The chief minister said the government was committed to ensuring lasting peace, development, and stability in the region, with all necessary measures being taken for the welfare of the people.

The cabinet approved the release of 1645 matric tonnes PASSCO imported wheat lying in Kurram. The cabinet approved one-time five-year relaxation of age and four attempts for PMS candidates due to the fact that the competitive examination had not been conducted for the last so many years. It was directed that in future such competitive examination should be conducted on annual basis regularly like the CSS.

The cabinet approved the creation of various posts for the effective utilization/running of the already installed tubewells of the Dera Ismail Khan Irrigation circle. The cabinet approved the release of Rs359 million for monthly ration and sustenance allowance to those people of North Waziristan registered as TDPs since June 2014.

Since April 2021, provision of dry food/ ration to the TDPs of North Waziristan has been discontinued by World Food Program (WFP) while the funds already provided by the Federal Government too have been exhausted. The cabinet therefore decided to approach the Federal Government for the provision of more funds and also stressed for a plan to rehabilitate the TDPs. The cabinet approved forwarding the provincial assembly resolution No. 123 to the federal government asking for the establishment of regional offices of Foreign Office at all the Divisional Headquarters of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa particularly Abbottabad and Swat to address the matter of documents’ attestation needs of the students.