FATA transition: Jhangra says no issue of exercising powers between governor, CM

K-P Finance Minister says PM’s apex committee working only for maintaining law and order

PESHAWAR: There are no differences between Governor Shah Farman and Chief Minister Mahmood Khan over exercising powers in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Finance Taimur Saleem Jhagra.

The erstwhile Fata was governed federally by the president through governor of K-P. After the merger with K-P, the executive authority would go to the chief minister.

“There is no difference between the governor and chief minister on power sharing in tribal districts after the merger of Fata,” he said talking to Daily Express at Shaheed Benazir Women University Peshawar.

The apex committee constituted by PM Imran Khan is only working on law and order situation and local government in tribal districts, Jhagra said.

Earlier addressing the Shaheed Benazir Women University Peshawar sports day, the finance minister said that K-P government’s first priority is to empower youth and provide them job opportunities.

He further said that the K-P government knows that there is still lack of teachers in government schools in KP as well as in Fata, adding that the government will soon advertise around 65,000 more vacancies for educators in K-P and tribal districts.

He said that government will provide Rs5 billion interest-free loans to the youth of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as well one billion rupees will be provided to the tribal districts youth , adding that the aim of the interest free loans is  to encourage youth towards the entrepreneurship.

He further added that the government will further extend Rescue 1122 service across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as well its service will also be expanded to tribal districts, adding that after the merger of Fata no compromised will be taken on the development of Tribal district.

The minister also distributed prizes among the wining players of Shaheed Benzir Women University and encouraged them to participate in such kind of sports activities. Earlier Vice Chancellor Razia Sultana also spoke and appreciated the players.

Meanwhile, Frontier College for Women Peshawar clinched the title of the cricket event part of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Olympiad which concluded here on Wednesday.

Frontier College for Women skipper Salam Khan won the toss and decided to bat first by setting up 124 runs after playing the allotted 20 overs for the loss of seven wickets with Uzaima hammered a cracking 49 runs. Uzaima bat well and smashed some good strokes including seven boundaries but she missed her very deserving half-century by just one run.

Salma Khan, the skipper, also played well and played a captain knock of 29 runs with three boundaries and one six, Zohara made 15 runs with two boundaries.

For Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Nafeesha, Manahil, Aysha, Ambareen and Maheen took one wicket each.

In reply, to 124 runs target, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University team got a good start with the two openers Afsheen and Momina played well and provided a solid 52 runs opening wicket partnership with Afsheen made 30 runs and Momina scored 20 runs, Afsheen also hit three cracking boundaries. Sara (17) and Khula Khan (13) were the other leading contributors. Thus Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University bowled out for 119 runs, five runs short from the winning target. For Frontier College for Women Maria, Zohra, Kalsoom took two wickets each while Mahnoo and Uzaima got one wicket each.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2019.