For the first time: FATA to get 230 Montessori systems, four year bachelor’s degree programme

FDWP-ADP meeting approves 23 development schemes

PESHAWAR: For the first time in the history of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), the government will establish 230 Montessori systems as well as a four years bachelor’s degree programme at the college level will be introduced in all agencies of the region. 

FATA Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Mohammad Azam Khan chaired a meeting in the FATA Secretariat on Monday about the 5th FATA Development Working Party (FDWP) in which the directors and officials from different departments participated.

The meeting decided that the governor’s Special Protection Programme for widows and orphans will also be implemented on war footings in Fata.

A FATA Secretariat official who attended the meeting told The Express Tribune that scholarships available for students hailing from the tribal areas would be increased from 200 to 2,000.

The official, while giving details of the meeting said that the mood turned sour at one point when most of the officials present were when asked for suggestions about the development projects but they failed to satisfy the ACS who lashed out at them.

Khan subsequently directed the officials to compile requisite records within one week and approved the introduction of additional technology in polytechnic institutes of tribal areas.

The official added that out of the 941 schemes worth Rs68.737 billion, 48 schemes worth Rs11.398 billion were discussed in the FDWP-ADP 2014-15 meeting.

Out of these schemes, 23 were approved while the rest were deferred with strict instructions to review them thoroughly within stipulated time frame.