Reconstruction of merged areas top priority, says PM

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday said that the people of merged areas (erstwhile FATA) had given a lot of sacrifices for the country and suffered many hardships and reconstruction of these areas and uplift of its people was top most priority of the government.

The prime minister stated this while chairing a review meeting regarding reconstruction and progress of the merged areas of formerly Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

He said the government announced payments of compensation to losses of the people of the merged areas must be ensured.

The prime minister directed that the process of distribution of Insaf Health Cards among the people of merged areas should be further expedited.

He also directed to take immediate steps to ensure maximum relief in provision of electricity to the people of merged areas during Ramzan.

The prime minister urged the people representatives to further improve their contacts with the people of merged areas so that their participation in development projects could be ensured.

The prime minister was given a detailed briefing about the Annual Development Programme, development projects in the next ten years and allocated and released funds for various projects during the current fiscal year.

The prime minister was told that 1186 projects had been included in the annual development programme 2018-19 in which 726 were ongoing while 460 were new projects. The projects included health, education, communication, electricity, agriculture and infrastructure development schemes.

The prime minister was informed that promotion of economic development, provision of communication facilities, development of urban centres, investment in human development, better governance and development of the institutions were the important pillars of the ten years development plan in the merged areas.