Rs33b needed to rebuild tribal areas

Compensation to be distributed after surveys

PESHAWAR:

Highlighting the extent of devastation caused by the military operation against terrorists, the FATA Secretariat demanded Rs33 billion from the federal government for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the tribal areas. A summary to this effect has been sent to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for approval.

Talking to The Express Tribune, senior officials at the secretariat said a survey would be carried out to assess the damage in seven tribal agencies. The Centre initially released Rs5 billion for displaced families from North Waziristan, South Waziristan and Khyber agencies. The amount was to cover transportation costs, their repatriation and other expenditures. The Rs33 billion summary is to be approved once the tribal areas are cleared by the Pakistan Army.



To supervise and complete the survey, a Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Unit (RRU) was set up at the FATA Secretariat. “A prerequisite of the survey of a house, market or shop is that the owner is present otherwise a claim will not be accepted,” said an RRU official.

Fragile promises

Authorities said the repatriation of IDPs would be completed by November 2016 to all agencies under the National Action Plan. After the completion of this survey, Rs400,000 would be given to the owners of a destroyed house and Rs160,000 for a partially damaged one. Compensation amounts for markets or shops will be determined later.

The reconstruction strategy will be completed in five phases. One of the main priorities is the rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure to ensure families have access to basic services on their return.

This includes reconstruction of schools, health facilities, water schemes, access roads, bridges and irrigation systems.

Post-crisis phase

The second step is to focus on strengthening the capacity of civil law-enforcement agencies. It includes the provision of modern equipment, training and correctional facilities.

Also, access to speedy and easy justice, increasing awareness about legal rights and guidance are among the main objectives as stressed in the National Action Plan.



Improving government service delivery is another key pillar of the strategy to reestablish trust between the people and the administration. Service delivery would be improved through better planning, coordination
and monitoring of rehabilitation projects.

In addition long and short term projects, livelihood opportunities, creation of jobs and enhancing skills of the people to enable them eke out a living would be ensured.

The officials said peace building, social cohesion and strategy were main features of the post-crisis phase.

It was decided to implement a communication and outreach campaign to involve women, youth and vulnerable groups. A mechanism would be devised to neutralise any potential threat to social cohesion or peace such as tribal or land disputes and insecurity.

Repatriation

Approximately, 7,500 families of the Sipah tribe would be sent back to Khyber Agency starting January 12. Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan, in his recent visit to Bara, Khyber Agency, announced the repatriation of displaced families to the area as it was cleared of militants.

After their return, around 6,500 displaced households from Tirah Valley will also be repatriated.



FATA Disaster Management Authority Director Relief Dr Qasim Khan, while confirming the process, said returning families would get Rs10,000 as transportation cost and Rs25,000 would cover other necessary expenses.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2016.