ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, while hinting at the possibility of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) merger with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, has categorically stated that the status quo “has to end”.
“Our government has already taken the initiative and is prioritising legal reforms along with constructive change in the affairs of Fata in consultation with all stakeholders,” the prime minister said on Tuesday while talking to a number of political figures to discuss official and political issues.
Those who called on the prime minister included newly-appointed PM’s Adviser and PML-N K-P president Amir Muqam, Kashmir Affairs Minister Birjees Tahir, Parliamentary Committee on CPEC Chairman Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed and others.
The CPEC committee chairman exchanged notes on the corridor and the role of parliamentary panel in this regard with the prime minister. Later, a delegation of senators from Fata also called on the prime minister.
A statement issued from the PM Office said Fata senators included Hidayat Ullah, Haji Momin Khan Afridi, Aurangzeb Khan, Hilal ur Rehman, Sajjad Hussain Turi, Muhammad Saleh Shah, Taj Muhammad Afridi and Malik Najam ul Hassan.
The delegation congratulated Abbasi on assuming office of the prime minister.
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They told the prime minister about the devastation wrought by decades of neglect and a war-like situation in their areas. “Terrorism has adversely affected the rate of development and severely damaged infrastructure in their respective agencies,” they said.
The prime minister responded that change in Fata “is a must and the status quo has to end”.
“Change is the government’s priority and we want to bring Fata on a par with other federating units. Equal treatment of Fata residents in all social sectors shall be ensured,” stated the prime minister.
The prime minister stated that additional resources shall be allocated to FATA for improving the health, education, infrastructure and social sectors. The prime minister also stated that he will visit FATA soon.
Meanwhile, the prime minister chaired a high-level meeting at his office where Minister for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar and National Polio Eradication Programme Chairperson Ayesha Raza Farooq briefed him on the progress regarding polio eradication.
The prime minister stated that the political leadership was whole-heartedly committed to polio eradication from Pakistan. “It is a matter of survival of our next generation, hence we take full ownership of polio eradication from the country,” Abbasi said.
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The prime minister, directing the minister concerned to immediately call a meeting of the National Task Force on polio eradication, said he would personally monitor progress.
“Polio eradication requires a concerted effort from provincial governments, law-enforcement agencies, district administration, civil society and international donors,” emphasised Abbasi.
The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the progress made by the Ministry of National Health Services and the National Polio Eradication Programme in significantly restricting the polio virus in the country.
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