Rs 425 million 30 new uplift schemes launched in Khyber Agency

In all a total of 30 new developmental schemes have been launched in Khyber Agency with an estimated cost of Rs 425.366 million to uplift the socio-economic conditions of the tribal people.
According to an update progress report of developmental schemes in Khyber Agency, the new projects have been approved in education, health, PHED, communication, housing, agriculture, livestock, forest, fisheries, irrigation, mineral and industry sectors.
Out of the estimated cost of Rs 425.366 million, an amount of Rs 47,605 million has been released for quick execution of these schemes.
Among these new projects, major thrust has been laid on the construction of protection bunds spurs on both sides of Bara river at an estimated cost of Rs 60 million for which an amount of Rs 2 million has been allocated.
The other big scheme is 'Purchase of state of the art equipment for Agency Headquarters Hospital at Landi Kotal costing Rs 39.347 million.
Whereas, another scheme, costing Rs 30 million, was launched for irrigation sector.
Apart from these new schemes, work on 75 developmental schemes is already in progress in the agency.
These 75 schemes were approved with an estimated cost of Rs 1089.272 millions and launched during the year 2002-03.
Similarly, work on 11 other schemes is also in progress which were launched in 2002-03 at an estimated cost of Rs 92.945 million under the 'Accelerated Development Package' for Khyher Agency.
These schemes were relating to education, health, communication and water supply.
The major completed schemes in Khyber Agency were construction of 37 km black topped road from Mangal Bagh to Surkas at a cost of Rs 74.50 million, construction of road from Maidan to Dwatoi (25 km) at a cost of Rs 76 million and construction of road from Mastak to Tarkhokas with branch road to Matra (36 km) at a cost of Rs 75.5 million.
Similarly, an irrigation scheme, Milward Small Dam in Khyber Agency has been completed with a cost of Rs 15.580 million benefiting 250 acres of land.
The government, it merits to mention here that, has given special attention to development of Fata which was passing through an era of neglect and indifference, adversely affecting the lives of the inhabitant of the area.
Recognising bad state of affairs in Fata, the federal government took prompt actions and came up with reform agenda aimed at changing the standard of lives of the tribal.
The priority areas set by the government were opening of inaccessible areas, employment and income generation, extension and strengthening of social services, poverty alleviation, gender sensitisation, community awareness and mobilisation.