Tribal districts’ issues: Khattak for constituting NA committee

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak Thursday recommended to constitute a special committee of National Assembly to discuss problems of tribal districts and suggest measures to resolve erstwhile FATA issues.

Responding to a Point of order raised by different legislators, he said, the provincial assembly elections of erstwhile tribal districts would be held in June. He added that the tribal areas would be brought at par with other developed areas of the country.

He asked the opposition to avoid criticism for the sake of criticism and suggest measures to help government in resolving the issues of public.

He said the government would welcome viable suggestions. State Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar said the government was committed to the new National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. Provinces have given their nominations for the commission and grievances of provinces would be addressed in NFC meetings.

Government believed in devolution of powers to the provinces but it also put additional responsibility on them to deliver in different sectors. The target of Sindh Revenue Board was Rs 120 billion as compared to Rs 4,490 billion revenue targets set by Federal Revenue Board.

Sindh government has delayed nominating the members of National Finance Commission (NFC) Awards. Sindh government did not pay 50 percent its share of  K-4 project in Karachi.

The federal government’s 50 percent shares of Rs seven billion were still un-utilised owing to negligence of Sindh government.

Gul Zafar Khan said FATA people were Pakistanis and should not be portrayed as terrorists.

Unfortunately human rights were being trampled in FATA, he said adding that CNICs of erstwhile FATA inhabitants were being blocked. FATA people should be granted human rights, he said.