FATA development outlay: Govt focussing on social sectors

PESHAWAR: In order to bring revolutionary changes in the lives of tribal folk and ensure the socio-economic uplift of the tribal people, the Fata ADP 2014-15, that carries a total outlay of Rs19 billion having a foreign aid component of Rs1.9 billion, mainly focuses on improving education, health, communication network and livelihood. This is in line with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan’s determination to put the Federally Administered Tribal Areas on the track of speedy development. The development schemes for Fata have been pitched at 941 for 2014-15 with enhanced allocation for the on-going schemes leading to expeditious completion. There are Rs1.7 billion funds for the Fata Development Authority, which works in six sectors. The education, communication and health sectors have been given top priority in the ADP as they receive Rs3.8 billion, Rs3.6 billion and Rs1.6 billion respectively. The document showed all Fata portfolios had been enlarged to 40%.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2014.