F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has categorically stated that expeditious development of the newly merged districts of erstwhile FATA is the priority number one of his government.
The federal and provincial government would implement an overall recovery plan for the reconstruction, rehabilitation, the creation of economic activities and the provision of jobs to the jobless would remove the backwardness and deprivation of the people of the newly merged districts of erstwhile FATA. We would ensure that our steps lead to the durable development of the FATA districts and the removal of backwardness and deprivation of the people of these areas, he added.
The Prime Minister said that law & order situation improved considerably because of the integrated security measures in the province. The people of the erstwhile FATA have come out of the hardships. His government would give Sehat Insaf Card to all the people of the merged districts by which each family would get free healthcare facilities up to seven lakh twenty thousand annually.
The Prime Minister directed the provincial Ministers to visit the newly merged districts and supervise the extended services and functions of their respective departments.
Imran Khan expressed the hope that the visit of the Saudi Crown Prince to Pakistan would facilitate the mass scale flow of foreign investment in Pakistan that would mitigate poverty and assured to help out the poor through Baitul Mal and social safety net enabling them to stand on their own feet adding that the promises made to the people of erstwhile FATA were being fulfilled. There would be an overall recovery plan for the rehabilitation, reconstruction and generation of economic activities that will generate jobs for the jobless and would lead to the overall development of the erstwhile FATA.
He was addressing three different meetings during his day long visit to Peshawar. The first meeting, the Prime Minister had with the Chief Minister of the Province Mr. Mahmood Khan and Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shah Farman. He also presided over a meeting of the apex committee that reviewed the functions of the newly constituted advisory committee in the context of newly merged districts of the province and the overall law & order situation in the province. The Prime Minister also presided over a meeting of the provincial cabinet. Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shah Farman, Corp Commander Shaheen Mazhar Mahmood and others attended.
The Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and the governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shah Farman briefed the Prime Minister about the administrative, security, extension of existing public entities and their functions to the newly merged districts, the overall recovery plan for the rehabilitation and reconstruction and the start of economic and developmental activities in the newly merged districts. The Chief Minister briefed the Prime Minister about the pace of progress of multiple dimensions in the newly merged districts after the merger.
The provincial government has already prepared a roadmap for the overall development and prosperity of the people of the newly merged districts adding that the economic activities would open up these areas to expeditious development. We have taken all steps to mitigate the sufferings of the people. The public sector entity and their functions have already been extended to these areas and we would move ahead with the recommendations of the newly constituted advisory committee for redressal and coordination with the people of these merged areas. He demanded the federal government for the provision of resources for the integrated development, rehabilitation, starting the economic activities and bringing the people to national stream of development.
Addressing the meetings the Prime Minister remarked that the people of erstwhile FATA suffered considerably. The militancy and the subsequent operations brought untold miseries to the people of these areas. His government had a commitment with the people for their expeditious development and mitigating their sufferings and deprivations. He said his government would work for uplifting the poor segment of these new districts adding that the extension of Sehat Insaf Card was a big stride of relief to the poor people and they would get free healthcare upto seven lakh and twenty thousand per family annually.
He reminded that the Sehat Insaf Card was an experience launched successfully in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa adding that he was happy that the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa prepared an overall recovery plan for the people of newly merged districts.
Prime Minister assured the provision of resources for the expeditious development in the tribal areas. The government would construct schools, hospitals and institution of social services. He directed the provincial ministers to visit the tribal districts and supervise the extension of their departments and the functions for efficient services delivery in the newly merged districts.
Imran Khan said that he was fully aware of the hardships of the people because of the militancy and operation. He was against the operations in the past because of the ultimate hardships and sufferings the people bore but at that time he had no power to make any decision. Now he had an opportunity to work harder for the development and prosperity of the people of merged areas. He reminded that when he took over, the country had started sagging under the weight of internal and external debts. Now the situation has improved considerably and the Saudi crown prince visit to Pakistan was a historic occasion for the mass scale foreign investment in Pakistan. This visit would create mass scale employment, bring stability to the country’s economy and we would be able to pay back the debts.
The Prime Minister said that his government would present a complete program for poverty reduction towards the end of this month adding that Sehat Insaf Card was one aspect of the overall poverty reduction plan. Poverty would be reduced through Baitul Mal and social safety net making the people able to stand on their own feet. His government would give a comprehensive plan for the overall development and the system would eliminate the exploitation of the poor and the poor would also be able to lead life with dignity in the society.
