Programme to revitalise FATA economy launched

15,000 families of Waziristan, Khyber agencies to benefit from the project

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra has said that the people of the Federally Administered Tribal Area (Fata) have been suffering for a very long time and their miseries increased manifolds when they were displaced from their native places.

Jhagra was addressing the launching ceremony of the Fata Economic Revitalisation Programme at the Governor House, Peshawar on Tuesday.

The $120 million project would be jointly funded by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). A memorandum of understanding between the country heads of the two organisations was also signed in this regard.

“We saw many people fleeing their homes; leaving their means of living behind; abandoning their productive lands; seeking safety, security and job elsewhere, hence exerting pressure on other resources and services that were barely sufficient to support the hosting communities,” said the governor.



Hailing the launch of the project, he said, “Together with the donors and many other friends, we have been successful to manage the situation in the past and hence, are very thankful to all of them for timely realising the ground realities.”

Under the Fata Economic Revitalization Programme, 15,000 families from North Waziristan, South Waziristan and Khyber Agency will be benefited by developing local resources.

UNDP Country Director Ignacio Artaza, USAID Assistant Administrator Gregory Huger, Fata Additional Chief Secretary Sikandar Qayyum and others were present on the occasion.