Sacrifices of tribesmen to be remembered: Jhagra

KALYA: Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said on Friday that Fata people had to leave homes for the greater cause of security of the country and their sacrifices would always be remembered.

“Peace has been restored because of the sacrifices of the security forces and tribal people. Now is the time for ensuring development and prosperity of people. The government is sparing no effort in mainstreaming the Fata by bringing it on a par with the comparatively developed parts of the country,” he said.

He was speaking at a tribal jirga at Ghaljo during his day-long visit on Friday, said an handout. Members of Parliament from the agency, Dr Ghazi Gulab Jamal, Aurangzeb Khan and Najmul Hassan, Fata Additional Chief Secretary Fida Muhammad Wazir, Kohat Commissioner Syed Musrrat Hussain, Political Agent Khalid Iqbal and tribal elders were also present.

He announced launching of projects costing Rs2.060 billion in the agency and also formally performed inauguration and groundbreaking of a number of development projects, which included a grid station at Ghaljo, construction of Zairra to Dabori Road and Mamozai Road, besides others.

Referring to the rehabilitation arrangements in Fata, the governor said that apart from continuing with routine development activities, multi-purpose special development packages had also been launched wherein provision of potable water, rehabilitation of agriculture sector, improvement of educational and health facilities were being equally focused.

He said that the fate of the area would be changed with the completion of all such development packages. To date, the governor said, repatriation of temporarily displaced persons had been his topmost priority and the process was now almost at the completion stage.

Referring to the points raised in the welcome address, the governor gave approval to the construction of Ghaljo-Mamozai Road and Ghaljo to Dabori Road.

He directed the authorities concerned to launch practical work on the project without any delay. The governor announced the provision of Rs1 billion for construction of Ghaljo-Arghaljo Road. He said that practical work on the project would be initiated shortly.

Similarly, the governor said that work to rehabilitate the damaged educational institutions would also be launched at a cost of Rs1.5 billion.