Ex-Fata budget allocation and structural deficiencies

The violent conflict in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa tribal districts (KPTDs) spanning almost two decades has left in tatters the physical infrastructure of the area and the people there. With the restoration of the rule of law in the wake of the multiple military operations, there is now hope that swift and steady reconstruction would bring normalcy back to the war-ravaged area. In this respect, the federal government had, in March 2017, approved a 10-year recovery programme for the KPTDs, earmarking Rs100 billion on an annual basis. Unfortunately, the funds provided for the KPTDs during 2018 and 2019 fell short of the allocation, which led to widespread frustration among the area’s population.

Realising the gravity of the situation, the current federal government has, in the Budget 2019-2020, allocated Rs152 billion for the development of the KPTDs, including Rs48 billion to be contributed by the Centre. While the incumbent government’s approach must be appreciated, it is important to mention that such pledges had been made by previous governments as well, but they remained largely unrealised either due to unavailability or delay in timely release of the pledged funds. Another concern is the improper institutionalisation of the economic response for financial uplift and economic integration of the KPTDs.

Within that context, there is need to consider a few core points which have not received proper attention as yet. First, delay in the release of funds has always remained a core concern of the tribal people. Considering the country’s current economic situation, it remains to be seen how swiftly the government will push for release of the funds allocated for the tribal districts. Timely transfer of money is not only important for initiation and continuation of economic activities, but also for avoiding people’s frustration.

Secondly, there is need for both federal and provincial governments to adequately institutionalise responses to the multi-faceted economic issues in the tribal districts, which is not possible without a proper framework on how to use this amount. The last Post-Crisis Needs Assessment (PCNA) survey had been conducted in 2010. All development partners still use that document before initiating any project in the erstwhile Fata region. However, local requirements have undergone tremendous change since then. There is a high likelihood that a major chunk of the funds may be wasted due to the absence of proper planning and prioritisation of the areas that require immediate attention.

Another important issue is the lack of coordination among various actors involved in the region for the purpose of post-conflict development. The Fata Secretariat has remained a prime institution through which most of the donor agencies and development partners have implemented various projects. But post-merger, uncertainty regarding the future of the Fata Secretariat and its slow merger with the K-P Secretariat has immensely affected the pace of various projects. A lack of coordination between the government and development partners, as well as within the development community, is an area of concern too. Another issue is the ambiguity regarding the ultimate objectives of development projects and their target areas and audience. Lastly, the transfer of money should be through the local government so that there is a visible trickle-down effect of these projects at the grass-roots level.

There is a need to learn from the economic reconstruction in post-Bonn Afghanistan where a multiplicity of actors, like the state and its development partners, did result in significant economic improvement, but the entire exercise was marred by corruption, nepotism and waste of funds. In the case of the KPTDs, such consequences can be avoided only if the response to the challenges is appropriately institutionalised with a clear agenda and timely inclusion of implementing partners in the process.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2019.

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