Tirah affectees seek Rs20b relief package

Delegation asks governor for faster registration and dignified return of displaced families

PESHAWAR:

A high-level delegation of Tehreek Mutasireen Tirah, led by its chairman Rahmat Shah Afridi, on Wednesday called on Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi at the Governor's House and demanded a special package of Rs20 billion for the long-suffering residents of Tirah.

The meeting focused on the multiple hardships faced by Tirah affectees, including delayed financial assistance, incomplete registration, lack of basic facilities and the need for a safe, dignified and sustainable return to their homes.

Members of the delegation included Sobhat Afridi, Minhaj Lala, Khadi Jan, Payo Shah, Karim Khan, Sher Afgan (president of the Tirah Traders Union), Saeed Khan, Syed Abdul Bad Shah, Syed Ahmad Gul, Zulqarnain, Sena Gul Kamarkhel, Syed Imt Gul, Saim Khan and other community representatives.

Speaking after the meeting, Tehreek Mutasireen Tirah spokesperson Sobhat Afridi said the delegation urged the governor to use his influence with the federal government to secure approval of the Rs20 billion special package or grant for Tirah affectees. The group also called for the establishment of a permanent Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) office in the area, completion of registration through a door-to-door survey, and the setting up of a Pakistan Red Crescent office dedicated to Tirah.

The spokesperson further requested the governor's assistance in arranging an early meeting with the Prime Minister or the President of Pakistan so that the affectees' concerns could be placed directly before the country's highest offices.

Governor Faisal Karim Kundi assured the visitors that he would recommend the Rs20 billion package to the Prime Minister during their next interaction and would also facilitate the delegation's meeting with the Premier. He directed the Deputy Commissioner of Khyber to identify and provide a suitable site for a Red Crescent office to serve Tirah affectees. The governor also undertook to pursue recommendations with BISP Chairperson Rubina Khalid for the swift registration and enrolment of eligible families from the valley.

Sobhat Afridi underlined that the people of Tirah have endured severe difficulties for several years. He appealed to the government to take immediate practical steps for financial relief, restoration of basic amenities and the honourable, secure and lasting return of displaced families to their ancestral lands.

The spokesperson expressed gratitude to Haji Sadiq Khan, chairman of Mazloom Ulasi Tehreek, for his continued support to the Tirah cause. He also thanked Governor Kundi for the patient hearing and constructive response, expressing hope that the governor's efforts would soon yield positive results on both the special package and the broader resolution of the affectees' problems. The meeting marks the latest effort by Tirah representatives to keep their long-standing grievances on the official agenda amid repeated appeals for comprehensive rehabilitation and development support.