The ongoing development schemes in FATA require almost Rs 28 billion and special efforts to arrange a big chunk of resources to complete them. This was stated in a meeting presiding over by NWFP Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani to review FATA annual development programme 2007-08 here at the Governor House on Saturday.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, FATA Habibullah Khan, Secretary to Governor Arbab Muhammad Arif, all administrative secretaries of FATA Secretariat, Regional Co-ordination Officers of Peshawar, Kohat and Bannu, Political Agents of tribal Agencies and District Co-ordination Officers responsible to govern the Frontier Regions and Additional Political Agents and Assistant political Agents of Frontier Regions.
The meeting was informed that out of total amount of Rs 6122 million, released under the annual development programme for the year 2007-08, Rs 6107 million was utilised on 1076 schemes, including 218 new ones, which reflected utilisation of 97 percent.
Out of the total amount, Rs 700 million was allocated for projects suggested by FATA Development Authority. Governor Ghani said that socio-economic uplift of FATA was the most important aspect of the government's strategies not only to resolve the FATA related issues and problems but also to ensure a prosperous future for the tribesmen on long term basis.
Appreciating the performance of the line departments, the Governor also referred to the newly created offices of Additional Political Agents in each tribal Agency and said that they should not only efficiently and regularly monitor the pace of work on the ongoing development projects but should also submit monthly progress reports to the quarters concerned.
The Governor also appreciated the services being rendered by FATA Monitoring Cell. He said, "Looking at the prevailing state of requirements, especially the level of interest of the respective people towards their future development, we have to do a lot to ensure their rapid socio-economic well being". To make this possible, he added, the government was sparing no effort to provide sufficient financial resources.
Referring to the working of Tesco, the Governor desired to have a detailed briefing on its activities in FATA shortly. "We have to look into the affairs of this organisation of vital importance with some more details not only to ensure proper implementation on development projects but also to make its working result oriented", he said. He also desired to have a project-wise review of the electrification development plans in FATA.
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