'2,200 tribal villages still without electricity'
Development fund for tribal districts increased to Rs20 billion in 2017-18, Senate panel told
PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Planning Ministry officials on Thursday told a Senate panel that the government continues to provide power to the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) despite no recovery of electricity dues worth billions of rupees from the tribal districts.
The combined electricity dues outstanding against former Fata amount to Rs22 billion, said the officials in a briefing to the Senate’s Standing Committee for Planning and Development on performance of the Fata Secretariat.
Senator Usman Kakar remarked that 2,200 villages in Fata do not have electricity at all. The problem is that the situation at Fata is worst and every government has ill-treated the areas that were merged with the Khyber Pakhtunkwa (K-P) province last year.
“The current government should work for Fata on priority basis. These days the people of Fata are able to visit their own homes,” he added in a reference to return of the internally displaced people (IDPs) and easing of restrictions on movement of people in the areas once hit by militancy.
The officials informed the committee that a special economic zone is being built at Mohmand tribal district and the zone will provide facilities and other incentives to industries and locals. They said development fund for Fata in 2008-09 was Rs6 billion which was increased to Rs20 billion in 2017-18.
'Pay debt or face more power cuts'
The Fata Secretariat secretary told the committee that PC-1 for land reforms in former Fata has been prepared. The PC-1 has now been sent to the Planning Commission for approval.
The secretary said the estimated project cost as stated in the PC-1 is Rs3.4 billion and the funding has been committed by USAID. Senator Afridi laid stress on resolving the problems caused by the Patwar circle in land reforms.
The committee chairman, Agha Shahzaib Durrani, said recommendation for this would be forwarded to the provincial government. The Fata Secretariat secretary said the government focus of the current development in Fata is placed on social welfare projects.
“In place of new schools, we are enhancing capacity of the existing schools and the MNAs are being consulted for all developmental projects,” he added.
However, the committee members said senators were not being consulted on the matters. The chairman endorsed the view and said senators should be taken into confidence on all Fata matters.
K-P seeks to sell power to Centre at revised rates
The Fata secretary told the committee that there are a total of 5,942 educational institutions in Fata while schools that were devastated during the military operations are being separately reconstructed. “The Pakistan Army is revamping and rebuilding the institutions destroyed in the conflict,” he said.
He said former Fata will get development funds for the current year while the government will also ensure its funds for the next fiscal year beginning in June. About 450 educational institutions in Fata are currently being constructed.
The officials said the government has decided to commence health card scheme in Fata in view of the prime minister’s instructions. The members said Fata has almost negligible facilities for health and education and there is a dire need to work in educational and health-related projects.
Durrani said people of Fata are still struggling to get access to better health and education facilities and there is dire need to prioritise both these sectors in planning and development agenda to alleviate miseries of the area which has historically struggled against different odds and social menaces.
He said work on different projects is slow due to non-availability of funds. “There is need to chalk out a vibrant master plan for former Fata to ensure speedy and complete rehabilitation of the area,” he said. The chairman also called for completing process for Fata merger as early as possible.
Planning Ministry officials on Thursday told a Senate panel that the government continues to provide power to the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) despite no recovery of electricity dues worth billions of rupees from the tribal districts.
The combined electricity dues outstanding against former Fata amount to Rs22 billion, said the officials in a briefing to the Senate’s Standing Committee for Planning and Development on performance of the Fata Secretariat.
Senator Usman Kakar remarked that 2,200 villages in Fata do not have electricity at all. The problem is that the situation at Fata is worst and every government has ill-treated the areas that were merged with the Khyber Pakhtunkwa (K-P) province last year.
“The current government should work for Fata on priority basis. These days the people of Fata are able to visit their own homes,” he added in a reference to return of the internally displaced people (IDPs) and easing of restrictions on movement of people in the areas once hit by militancy.
The officials informed the committee that a special economic zone is being built at Mohmand tribal district and the zone will provide facilities and other incentives to industries and locals. They said development fund for Fata in 2008-09 was Rs6 billion which was increased to Rs20 billion in 2017-18.
'Pay debt or face more power cuts'
The Fata Secretariat secretary told the committee that PC-1 for land reforms in former Fata has been prepared. The PC-1 has now been sent to the Planning Commission for approval.
The secretary said the estimated project cost as stated in the PC-1 is Rs3.4 billion and the funding has been committed by USAID. Senator Afridi laid stress on resolving the problems caused by the Patwar circle in land reforms.
The committee chairman, Agha Shahzaib Durrani, said recommendation for this would be forwarded to the provincial government. The Fata Secretariat secretary said the government focus of the current development in Fata is placed on social welfare projects.
“In place of new schools, we are enhancing capacity of the existing schools and the MNAs are being consulted for all developmental projects,” he added.
However, the committee members said senators were not being consulted on the matters. The chairman endorsed the view and said senators should be taken into confidence on all Fata matters.
K-P seeks to sell power to Centre at revised rates
The Fata secretary told the committee that there are a total of 5,942 educational institutions in Fata while schools that were devastated during the military operations are being separately reconstructed. “The Pakistan Army is revamping and rebuilding the institutions destroyed in the conflict,” he said.
He said former Fata will get development funds for the current year while the government will also ensure its funds for the next fiscal year beginning in June. About 450 educational institutions in Fata are currently being constructed.
The officials said the government has decided to commence health card scheme in Fata in view of the prime minister’s instructions. The members said Fata has almost negligible facilities for health and education and there is a dire need to work in educational and health-related projects.
Durrani said people of Fata are still struggling to get access to better health and education facilities and there is dire need to prioritise both these sectors in planning and development agenda to alleviate miseries of the area which has historically struggled against different odds and social menaces.
He said work on different projects is slow due to non-availability of funds. “There is need to chalk out a vibrant master plan for former Fata to ensure speedy and complete rehabilitation of the area,” he said. The chairman also called for completing process for Fata merger as early as possible.