Uplift projects underway in Bara, Tirah: MPs

BARA: Member National Assembly (MNA) Nasir Khan Afridi and his brother Senator Momin Khan Afridi said on Thursday that developmental projects were underway in Bara and Tirah valley after restoration of peace there.

Speaking to reporters at their residence in Bara, they said the tribesmen belonging to Bara subdivision faced problems related to electricity, drinking water, health and education.“Owing to the prolonged electricity loadshedding, people are facing drinking water shortage after repatriation to native areas in Bara,” Nasir Afridi said.

He said they had installed dozens of solar tube-wells for drinking water, irrigation in Malikdinkhel, Bar Qambarkhel, Sipah and Akakhel areas.“The education and health sectors had been already destroyed in decade long militancy, and efforts are underway to rehabilitate the education and health sectors as soon as possible,” the MNA said.

He said dozens of educational and health institutions have been reconstructed.Senator Momin Khan Afridi said the electricity shortage was a burning issue.“We have discussed with the officials of the Wapda the proposal to provide more lines from Matani and Hayatabad grid stations to Bara areas,” he said.

He said the crushing machines and other factories were closed down due to unknown reasons and thousands of tribesmen rendered jobless.“We will also take up with the government authorities the reopening of factories to give jobs to locals,” he added. He praised the non-governmental organisations for the construction of roads, a water channel, installation of solar tube-wells and provision of jobs to the local residents.