Ajmal Wazir. PHOTO: PTI
Both the federal and provincial governments have chalked out a 10-year comprehensive development plan worth billions of rupees for the merged districts which will usher in a new era of development and prosperity in the region.
He expressed these views while addressing public gatherings at various places in North Waziristan during his four days long official visit to the district.
He said that fast track development of the merged districts to bring them at par with other developed areas of the country in order to incorporate them into the national mainstream was the topmost priority of the incumbent federal and provincial governments which were utilising all available resources at their disposal for the purpose.
"The ex Fata comprising areas from Waziristan to Bajaur is replete with precious natural resources which have been neglected for a very long time and as such poverty, backwardness, illiteracy, lawlessness and other social evils are prevalent in the area as a result of which the area has lagged behind other areas in the field of development, and the draconian discriminatory law (FCR) enforced in the area has exacerbated the miseries of the locals," said Wazir.
However, he added that all this was a just a thing of the past now because the present government under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan has not only made necessary constitutional amendments but had also taken other concrete steps to merge the area with one of its federating units with the aim to bring it to the national mainstream.
Touching upon the merger process Wazir said that although administrative, legal, financial and judicial merger of the area with K-P has been completed successfully but still there is a long way to go, and both the federal and provincial governments are extremely committed to complete the merger process as soon as possible to be followed by extensive developmental activities in the area.
The spokesperson informed the tribal elders that the merger of Khasadar and levy force with K-P police was a complicated and difficult task but thanks to the leadership of the prime minister and K-P Chief Minister Mehmood Khan that such a difficult task had been completed in a very peaceful and admirable manner and 28,000 personnel of Khasadar have been formally merged with the K-P police.
" Billions of rupees will be spent on various development infrastructure and social sector schemes including health, education, employment and law and order in the merged areas within next ten years under the 10-year development plan."
Wazir remarked and added that the government has already launched free medical treatment facility to the population of the merged districts under Social Health Protection Scheme with its brand name as Sehat Insaf Card Scheme which will ensure the free medical treatment to people both in public and private sector hospitals
Similarly, the government has launched Self Employment Scheme in the merged areas to provide interest-free loans of up to one million to the youth of the area in order to enable them to earn their livelihood in a respectable manner.
He hoped that with such unprecedented and revolutionary steps of the incumbent government, these will very soon be turned into a developed, prosperous and peaceful areas and once and for all there will be an end to the miseries and sufferings of the local people who have rendered great sacrifices in the war against terrorism.
On this occasion, the tribal elders paid glowing tributes to Ajmal Wazir for striving so hard for the development of the merged areas and for the wellbeing of its people.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 28th, 2019.
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