KP Cabinet’s next meeting in Khyber, says Shaukat

Amjad Ali Afridi

JAMRUD: The Minister for Information Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shaukat Yousafzai Monday said the next meeting of provincial cabinet would be held in newly merged district Khyber to convey a message that peace has restored in merged districts.

Due to sacrifices of tribal people and security forces the law and order situation has improved in merged districts and for the first time in the history of country the cabinet meeting is scheduled to be held there. He said this during a visit to district Khyber. Deputy Commissioner district Khyber Mehmood ul Islam Wazir received the provincial minister while Secretary Information Qaiser Alam, Director General Information Firdous Khan, Director Information Tribal districts Salam Wazir were also present on the occasion.

Addressing a Jirga of tribal elders, the Minister said that an amount of Rs 100 billion would be spent on development of merged districts in next 10 years, adding 30,000 recruitment would be made in the police force in tribal districts. He said sense of deprivation would be removed in all areas and all flaws in health and education sectors would be removed. All vacant posts in heath sector would be filled on war footing so that people could not face any difficulty.

He said that attendance of teachers in schools would be ensured and shortage of staff would be overcome by inducting new teachers through transparent system.

The Minister referring to sacrifices of tribal people said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been completed after merger of erstwhile FATA. He said that tribal districts have been declared tax free for the next five years and the government would fully support the business activities in the areas, adding the KP government would request the federal government to provide electricity to industrial units in the merged districts on subsidized tariff.

Shaukat said that as per the announcement of the Prime Minister Imran Khan, in 25 sports stadiums would be built at Tehsil level of merged districts. Later, during question and answer session at Radio Khyber, the Minister said that Radio stations would be established in all merged districts so that people could easily bring their problems in the notice of the government. He said that importance of radio stations in the tribal districts has increased to counter anti Pakistan propaganda being aired by several radio stations in Afghanistan. Appreciating political awareness among tribal people, he said that they would foil all conspiracies against the country.