‘Successful military op': Agreement signed with telecoms to distribute aid through SIMs to IDPs

Governor lauds Khyber tribesmen for cooperating with government.

PESHAWAR: Expressing satisfaction with the outcome of the military operation in Khyber Agency, Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan on Thursday lauded tribesmen for cooperating with the government and leaving their homes behind for restoration of peace. Earlier in the day, Mehtab attended the signing of an agreement between the government and two telecom companies regarding the payment of a financial package to internally displaced persons (IDP) from Khyber Agency upon their repatriation.

Director of FATA Disaster Management Company (FDMA) and executives of Mobilink and Telenor signed the agreement. Aside from the governor, FATA Additional Chief Secretary Muhammad Azam Khan, FATA Security Secretary Shakil Qadar Khan, Khyber Agency Political Agent Shahab Ali Shah, former federal minister Malik Waris Afridi and elders from Bara attended the ceremony.

Under the agreement, both telecom companies will be responsible for paying the repatriation package to each displaced family. The aid includes Rs10,000 for transport and Rs25,000 for rehabilitation which will be made through mobile SIMs and ATM cards. Payment will begin once the return schedule is finalised; the governor has already declared repatriation of Khyber IDPs will begin from February 15.

According to FDMA Director General Ikramullah, a fixed 1% has been set as transaction charges by both companies for payment received by tribesmen using SIMs or ATM cards.

Ikram said the companies have assured the government the disbursement will be transparent and with the help of the FATA Secretariat the firms will conduct a campaign to inform and educate IDPs about the payment process.

Plans for repatriation

“The displaced tribesmen have played a key role in the government’s drive against terror and they deserve an honourable repatriation,” said Governor Mehtab while addressing the media at Governor House.

Mehtab told the media around 80,000 families from across Khyber Agency were displaced because of Khyber-I. “Under the repatriation plan, IDPs will be repatriated according to their clans and sub-clans,” he said.

“Initially, tribesmen will be repatriated to Bara plains where peace and writ of the state has been restored,” Mehtab added. According to the governor, the displaced people have assured the government of their cooperation.

In response to a question, Mehtab said displaced families whose houses have been completely destroyed will be paid Rs400,000 while those whose houses sustained partial damage will be paid Rs160,000.

“The government is determined to conduct a detailed assessment of the properties and infrastructure damaged during military action against terrorists in Khyber Agency,” he said.

Speaking about law and order, the governor said he visited Bara a couple of days ago and saw the writ of the state has been enforced in the area.

On the return of IDPs of North Waziristan Agency, Governor Mehtab said the process will begin in the middle of March. “The government is determined to ensure repatriation of North Waziristan IDPs in a respectable manner,” he maintained.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2015.