World Bank likely to assist in FATA development

The World Bank is likely to extend assistance in the development of the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) for poverty reduction and bringing the backward parts at par with other developed areas of the country.
This was hinted in a meeting between Paul Wade, Senior Country Economist for poverty reduction and economic management, South Asia, and the officials of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) here at the zonal office of the apex trade body.
Those present on the occasion were FPCCI vice president Fazal Elahi, president of Industrialists Association, Peshawar (IAP) Nauman Wazir, senior vice president of Tribal Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) Abdul Hakeem Shinwari, Convenor of Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry (WCCI) NWFP Farah Naz, Faiz Rasool Khan and Riaz Arshad. Regional Chief of Small & Medium Enterprise Development Authority (Smeda) Javid Khattak also attended the meeting.
The trade bodies' officials briefed the World Bank officials about the potential and problems of trade and industry in the province and of the tribal belt. Paul Wade told the businessmen that he would take up the matter with senior World Bank officials in Islamabad as well as in headquarters. "I would talk to World Bank officials and will try to mobilise the management," he said.
However, he added that the Bank would require comprehensive data and survey on the potential sectors and situation in the tribal belt. He said that he was working with NWFP government and Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) for the last six years, and would also work with Tribal Area Chamber for the preparation of a strategy which would be completed within two years.
He said that Tribal Chamber, in collaboration with FPCCI and Smeda, would work out what should be done for the development of tribal area. The World Bank, he said, would analyse the economic growth of NWFP and would hold negotiations with different stakeholders from both public and private sectors to seek their opinion on the improvement of business environment in the province.
He said that the bank would also conduct a survey of different sectors of the province to look into their contributions towards economic development. He said that the bank was also looking to form a working group comprising key sectors, stakeholders from private sector and concerned government organisation.
The World Bank official was appreciative of the measures taken by the provincial government for economic development and giving more space for private sector.