Owners of NWA fuel stations demand compensation

PESHAWAR: All North Waziristan Petroleum Association has demanded the federal government to announce special compensation for owners, whose fuel stations were destroyed during the military operation ‘Zarb-i-Azb’ in the tribal region.

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, the association president Malik Raqeeb Gul said a total of 70 fuel stations in North Waziristan Agency were damaged in the military operation. He said around 66 per cent fuel stations were partially damaged, while 44 per cent destroyed in the tribal agency. He added that the owners had lost millions of rupees.

Malik Raqeeb believed around 30 fuel stations were operational in the entire North Waziristan. He said the tribal agency was faced with severe financial crisis after the military operation in the region.

Flanked by the National Youth Organisation Chairman Mohsin Dawar, the association vice-president, Malik Rafiuddin, finance secretary, Malik Sanaullah, and Malik Asad Khan and others, he said the businesses were damaged while unemployment had increased after end of the security forces action in the tribal agency. Mohsin Dawar said the economic stability of tribal people is vital for the terrorism-free and peaceful Waziristan. He said the no tangible step was taken to support the militancy-hit businesspersons of the tribal region. He said survey had been initiated only of the houses damaged in NWA but no assessments for commercial and businesses losses were made.