Militancy-hit: 80% schools in former FATA shut

Senator Aurangzeb raises questions over release of compensation to affected people


Newsdesk December 12, 2018
Tribal areas. PHOTO: REUTERS

Eighty per cent schools in the former-Fata are shut, said Senator Aurangzeb Khan urging the government to judiciously spend the funds announced for the areas devastated by militancy and military operations against the terrorists.

The government had announced a number of packages to compensate the people affected by consecutive operations, however, the Senator from tribal areas said, most of the promises remain unfulfilled.

“Owners of most homes that were destroyed in the operation have not received compensation,” he told the Meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) held at Parliament House on Tuesday.

With education, health and housing infrastructure in shambles, where have all the funds gone, he questioned. “We want to know the details of Rs884 billion being spent on former Fata for development.”

He recommended forming a committee to monitor on-ground situation of utilisation of development funds in tribal districts.

The Senate Standing Committee on SAFRON meeting chaired by Senator Taj Muhammad Afridi was attended by Senator Aurangzeb Khan, Senator Haji Momin Khan Afridi, Senator Hidayat ullah, Senator Hillalur Rehman, Senator Sajjad Hussain Turi, Senator Lt Gen (retd) Salahuddin Tirmizi and senior officers from the SAFRON ministry.

While discussing the point of public importance raised by Senator Aurangzeb regarding delay in rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in the former Fata, the committee stressed the need to continue development work in the area, as per availability of funds.

The meeting also deliberated upon unutilised funds released for Sustainable Development Goals for the year 2018 in Khyber district.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2018.

 

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