NWFP Governor Lieutenant General (Retd) Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah has said that a huge development package costing almost Rs 7 billion was under implementation in Fata which apart from the current ADP also include federally funded development projects and foreign aid accumulated to the tune of Rs 2063 million and Rs 1780 million respectively.
Talking to a group of the participants of 2nd Allied Officers War Course; currently in progress at National Defence College, Islamabad who called on him at Governor House Peshawar the governor said, "this is really a biggest investment in the history of the area which is almost 700 percent high as compared to the annual development allocations of three years back" and they were taking concrete measures to ensure its judicious utilisation.
The delegation, led by the Chief Instructor Major General Sabahat Hussain, also included representatives from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Lebanon, whereas Secretary to Governor Sahibzada Saeed Ahmad and Secretary Security FATA Brigadier (R) Mahmood Shah briefed the delegates about salient features of the development activities as well as the security issues in the area.
The Governor said that under the said package, education is being given top most priority which definitely prove helpful not only to bring social change in the way of life of the respective people but also cause a major source to generate employment opportunities.
However, he added, despite making such a huge investment in this sector, the demand from the public for establishment of more and more educational institutions was increasing with every passing day.
Responding to a point raised by a delegate on this occasion regarding alleged opposition towards female education by the tribal, the governor made it clear that had never ever come across to such a demand from any tribal during the last four years ever since he had taken over the present responsibilities. Rather, he said, the demand for the establishment of girls schools was much more high as compared to their counterparts.
He said the number of degree colleges had already increased from 10 to 30 and by next year there would be 45 degree colleges in FATA.
Fortunately, the governor said, the tribal themselves had realised the importance of education and they had come in the fore front to demand for the establishment of more and more educational institutions of every level.
The governor also pointed out that though the government sponsored micro-credit schemes with the aim to generate economic activities did not exist in FATA yet the network of the commercial banks was being expanded to make them accessible to the maximum tribal population for that purpose.
In fact, he remarked, agriculture development with special focus on irrigation related projects were the main focus of the government to generate self employment opportunities on long term basis.
Talking about the law and order situation with particular reference to the presence of foreign elements in South Waziristan Agency, the governor said, the tribal themselves provided us guarantee not allow anyone to harbour with any foreigner.
Further the foreigners present in the area had to provide guarantee that they would not indulge themselves in any negative activities.
In the light of the said conditions, the governor said, different tribes as well as their sub-sections have been contacting them to help in bringing normalcy in the area.
Earlier while briefing the delegates, the Secretary to Governor Sahibzada Saeed Ahmad said, despite the fact that such a huge developments, taking place in this sector, keeping in view the prevailing enrolment ratio of 68% and 19% of boys and girls respectively, there exist a vast scope for make more accelerated efforts and injecting more amount to launch educational institutions to meet both the quantitative and qualitative demands in this connection.
Referring to the economic sector, the Secretary to Governor said, with the 41 percent of the total area under cultivation presently there exist a vast scope to bring further development in this sector.
Keeping reality in mind, he added, a vast network of small dams was being developed in FATA out of which two projects have already been completed; work on eight small dams was at final stage whereas feasibility study of another ten schemes of similar nature was in progress.
The Secretary Security while briefing the guests said till a couple of years back almost 30 percent of the total area was inaccessible but now we had access to all over FATA.
Highlighting the security issues with special reference to the presence of foreign elements he mentioned a number of events which led to call the army to help in resolving the problem.