Development projects in FATA: 'Annual budgets spent on other projects by KP government'

A parliamentary panel on Wednesday showed its apprehension that the allocation of the federal government approved in annual budgets for development projects in FATA districts merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was spent by provincial government on other projects. The Senate Standing Committee on States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) met here in the chair of Taj Muhammad Afridi. The committee said that the parliamentarians should be involved in the committee which is overseeing the development projects in former FATA region.
The chief secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa briefed about the administrative and other issues and 10 years development plan (Tribal Decade Strategy 2020-30) of erstwhile FATA after merging with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The committee was informed that the development in tribal areas is far behind in education, health, basic facilities and others needs in social sector as compared with the settled areas of Pakistan.
He further said that FATA Reform Committee was established in 2015. On the recommendations on the FATA Reform Committee, then federal cabinet of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz approved a 10-year long development plan. Later, a constitutional amendment was made for merging FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018 and final approval of the merger of FATA was given in 2019.
In the background briefing, the committee was informed that a survey was conducted by a core committee established under 10 years development plan for FATA, of the area. According to the finding of the survey, 24 percent people demanded for supply of electricity, 15 percent showed concerns regarding transparency in the development projects, 15 percent asked for gas connections, 12 percent appealed the government for rehabilitation of temporarily displaced persons of FATA/PATA and 7 percent advised for restoration of peace in the area.
The federal government spent Rs 60 billion for development and uplifting the standard of living there. A total of 32 areas of economy were identified and allocation of fund was made against 18 sectors. Sajjad Hussain Turi recommended the committee to issue directives to the federal government to exempt the unspent fund for development of FATA from surrendering at the end of financial year. Every district has its own priorities and needs. He said that one district is asking for schools and other needs hospitals, adding that unemployment is the biggest issue there.
The committee was further briefed by Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and Home Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regarding doubling of quota of FATA students from erstwhile FATA in different universities and colleges. Students of primary schools belonging to former FATA region would get Rs 1,000 as stipend. Students who clear metric examination and take admission in professional colleges would be entitled for a grant of Rs 300,000 annually.
The committee was further informed that the federal government would implement the mega projects and Insaaf Employment Programme would also be extended to the youth of the area. The committee was also given assurance that Rs 10 billion funds would be spent on development projects in the merger districts of FATA by the end of current financial year. Tribal Electricity Supply Company (TESCO) released Rs 1.25 billion out of total allocation of Rs 6 billion in current year for completion of power projects there.