Some good news

Probably for the first time in Pakistan the National Assembly unanimously passed a bill that was moved and proposed by a single independent member. A few days ago, Mohsin Dawar, an independent member from North Waziristan presented a bill in the NA, seeking an increase in national and provincial seats of erstwhile Fata. The bill was sent to the concerned committee and was put yesterday in front of the House. All the political parties unanimously favoured the bill and it was passed with 278 votes. The prime minister has welcomed the new amendment and called it a great step towards minimising the sense of deprivation of the people of war-torn ex-Fata. National and provincial assembly seats are given on the basis of population. But the tribal districts are now exempted of that formula and will enjoy a special status. The tribal districts will also have Rs100 billion each year for developmental work. We hope that the coming days will be good days for Pakistan.

Engineer Intizar Khan

Bannu