Minister says tribal districts to benefit from merger

KHAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Food Qalandar Khan Lodhi has said that merged districts would benefit from merger as Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) government is fully dedicated to extend all departments to erstwhile Fata at the earliest.

Talking to reporters after holding a meeting with district administration during his official visit to Bajaur district on Friday, the food minister said all departments including food were being extended to the merged districts.

Referring to the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on paying visits to tribal districts, he said the visits were meant to learn about the problems and challenges being faced by tribal people

“This is testimony to the fact that prime minister and chief minister are very much serious about development and wellbeing of the tribesmen,” he remarked.

“I have started visiting the merged districts and others ministers will also follow the directives. I will frequently visit all the seven districts so as to give the tribal brethren a message that they are no more from lawless tribal areas but are equal and respectable citizens of the country,” remarked Qalandar Lodhi. He said that complete transition and full-fledged extension of the Food Department to tribal districts would take time, which involved development of infrastructure and recruitment of staff. He further said that staff of adjacent district would be given additional charge of Bajaur for time being to extend Food Department services without any delay.