Rs1.42 bn provided for NWA IDPs, KP Assembly told

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly was told here Friday that the provincial government had provided Rs1.42 billion for the relief of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) from North Waziristan.

The House was informed that the government released Rs1160,000,000 for cash distribution to 1,95,798 displaced families under the Esaar Programme.

The assembly was told in reply to a question by Mufti Syed Janan of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) that Rs144,600,000 were given for the health facilities, Rs104,050,000 for livestock and Rs20,000,000 to the district administration for relief activities.  

Mufti Janan had sought the details of the amount spent on the displaced persons.

Besides cash, the government said it provided 2,000 tents, 10 percent quota was allocated for IDPs students in colleges in Kohat, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan, doctors teams were sent along with Rescue 1122, and vehicles and generators were also provided to the district administration for the relief activities. The food and non-food items were distributed through the Federal Disaster Management Authority and the Fata Secretariat.

However, Mufti Janan said he was not satisfied with the answer as detailed list of names and addresses of those getting the relief amount was not provided.

He requested Speaker Asad Qaiser to refer the matter to the assembly’s select committee. In his reply, Law Minister Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi said the government was ready to provide all details about the relief provided to the displaced persons. Still Mufti Janan stressed on referring the matter to the select committee and his demand was accepted.

Speaker Asad Qaiser also announced schedule for the election of deputy speaker. He said nomination papers could be filed on December 21. These can be withdrawn the same day till late night. Polling would be held on December 22 after 12 noon.

Earlier, on a call attention notice by Muhammad Arif of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf about the absence of doctors and paramedics from duty at the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Shabqadar, Health Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai assured of taking action against those found guilty.

The legislator had complained that some doctors and other staff of the hospital were on general duty but were not coming to the Shabqadar Hospital for work. He said the matter was brought into the notice of District Health Officer and Director General Health but in vain.

The minister replied that following the complaint a team of the Health Department was sent that conducted an inquiry and submitted the report to high-ups.

The summary was sent to the chief secretary and action would be taken soon. He also clarified that general duty of doctors had been banned throughout the province and anybody violating the ban would be punished. The Speaker adjourned the session till Monday.