Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan has said that they are determined to root out wave of militancy and ensure the bright future of our coming generations. He said that tribesmen had rendered great sacrifices and paid heavy price for the peace of the entire region and now time has come to take concrete steps for their welfare. He said in reciprocation of their sacrifices international community should come forward and help them in their rehabilitation.
He was addressing the MoU signing ceremony of strategic partnership between Governor's secretariat and jointly UNDP and DFID on Wednesday here at Governor's House, Peshawar to further reforms in tribal areas marked by the launch of the Governor's Strategic Support Unit (GSSU).
The MoU was signed by principal secretary to Governor, Sikandar Qayyum and Tracy Vienings, the UNDP Pakistan Deputy Country Director. Besides, Joanna Reid, Head of DFID Pakistan, parliamentarians, ACS FATA, Muhammad Aslam Kamboh, VCs, journalists, tribal elders, representatives of international organizations, officials of FATA secretariat and others were also present on the occasion.
The United Kingdom has contributed over GBP 10.25 million (GBP 6.25 million through UNDP) to improve governance of the recovery process, provide direct support to returning families to rebuild basic services and livelihoods and to plan for longer term reform. Addressing the ceremony, the Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan welcomed the initiative saying that development work done in the past in FATA were irrational and lacked sustainability that resulted in waste of resources and has no particular impact in terms of improved socio-economic indicators in FATA.
He said we already did an extensive House hold survey on socio-economic need based in FATA that would provide a base for all the new development projects to be launched in the tribal areas. Sardar Mehtab said that as FATA people return to their homes, we are presented with an unprecedented opportunity to plan and implement reforms which will strengthen confidence between communities and governance structures.
An essential element of this support is the establishment of the Governor's Strategic Support Unit, which will provide additional capacity within the Government to help deliver some of the most important aspects of its reform agenda. This Unit will help the FATA Secretariat and its line departments in the delivery of major reform in at least four key sectors of government including Education, Health, Economic Development and FATA Reforms through additional problem solving and analytical capacity. It will also provide technical assistance to FATA Secretariat to develop concrete roadmaps for reform in the complex area of rule of law and justice, including specific reforms in local governance, law enforcement, municipal services, judicial services and land settlements. In addition, about 300 communities will be engaged in government-led rehabilitation efforts, with 25 community spaces rehabilitated for recreational and other productive activities with active participation by FATA's youth. Over 6,000 men and women will receive short and medium term employment opportunities.
The Governor said with the help of our development partners, the Governor's Strategic Support Unit will help in monitoring and evaluation based on empirical evidence so that our responses are accordingly modulated to the emerging needs. As FATA's people return to their homes, we are presented with an unprecedented opportunity to plan and implement reforms which will strengthen confidence between communities and governance structures." said Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan.The Governor also appreciated the role of UNDP and DFID for their help in establishing the strategic unit. He said Governor's Strategy Support Unit will be essential for the foundations for a prosperous and peaceful future for FATA.
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