Nation proud of tribesmen’s sacrifices, says Jhagra

Claims FATA to be brought on a par with other developed parts of the country

PESHAWAR: Sacrifices rendered by tribesmen for Pakistan’s development, progress and stability are a visible part of the country’s national history, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said on Thursday during a visit to the South Waziristan Agency.

Addressing the elders of the Mehsud tribe, the governor said: “Our brothers from Fata abandoned their homes in the best national interests … and the entire nation will always remember their sacrifices with great pride and honour.”

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Senator Maulana Saleh Shah Qureshi, GOC 9 Division Maj-Gen Nauman Zakriya, Additional Chief Secretary FATA Fida Wazir, Political Agent Zafarul Islam and others were also present on the occasion.

Referring to the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts, the governor said that the government had launched multi-purpose development packages, costing billions of rupees.

Projects meant for providing clean water, rehabilitating agriculture sector and initiating health and educational activities “are an important part of all such packages, and efforts are being made to fully implement them,” he said.

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After complete materialisation of development packages, Fata would come on a par with other developed parts of the country, he claimed.

The governor later announced a special package of Rs500 million for provision of clean water and construction of roads in remote areas in the agency.

Assuring the tribal elders that he would take up the matter of compensation with the prime minister, he pointed out that Rs461,000 was being provided as compensation for every fully destroyed house.

According to Jhagra, salaries to Khasadars were being paid under DDO rules and that would continue till 2018. He also approved the establishment of a Tehsil Headquarters Hospital at Sara Rogha, and promised to look into the possibility of constructing small dams in South Waziristan Agency.