NWFP Governor Lieutenant General Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah (Retd) expressed the hope that Ahmadzai tribes would fulfil their collective responsibilities in accordance with the agreement reached with the government and has assured that if tribes followed the agreement, the law-enforcing agencies would not need to continue their operation.
Addressing a grand Jirga comprising tribal elders from all the tribal agencies in the presence of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at the Governor's House here on Saturday, the governor pointed out that we did not have any dispute with tribes and only have the desire that they should fulfil their responsibilities and disallow giving shelter to foreign elements.
We, the governor said, do not want the tribesmen to suffer anymore because of the presence of foreign elements.
In fact, the governor said, as a result of the co-operation of tribal people and efforts of the government, the situation is rapidly becoming normal.
Ahmadzai tribes, he added, have started realising their responsibilities whereas the uprising in the jurisdiction of Mehsood tribe has also been controlled with their co-operation.
In South Waziristan, the governor said, majority of the tribal people are supporting the government's actions as is evident from the agreement under which, he added, they have also provided cash guarantees to fulfil their collective responsibilities regarding protection of the area.
The governor highlighted the efforts being made by the government for the development and prosperity of the people and said, in fact a new era of development and prosperity has been ushering in tribal areas for the last one year.
Even in those areas, he added, which never witnessed a single initiative for development in the past, tremendous development activities are in progress.
In fact, he remarked, as against the past practice of launching development activities in education, health, communication, irrigation, etc, at the discretion of tribal elders, all such facilities are being extended on the basis of need to the respective community.
In Fata, he said, we are focussing on expanding educational facilities because, he remarked, education is our first, second as well as third priority in development strategies.
In line with this policy, he said, we have already brought the number of degree colleges from 10 to 34 during the last two years and would achieve the target of establishing 50 degree colleges during the next couple of years.
In Fata, the governor said, the literacy rate amongst females is terribly low and we are making special efforts to increase it.
To develop agriculture sector, the governor said, we are focussing on expansion of irrigation facilities and for this purpose construction of six small dams have already been started whereas another documentation process on nine more similar projects is in progress.
For the first time in the history of Fata, the governor said, industrial estates are being established and sports stadiums are under construction.
Similarly, he added, hostels for working women are also being constructed in Fata. To promote purposeful and job-oriented education, the governor said, we have launched another project under which colleges of management sciences are being established in different areas as well.
All these projects, he remarked, on completion would cause to bring a revolutionary change in the socio-economic life of the tribal people.
He expressed the hope that the presence of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would prove quite helpful in bringing a revolutionary change in the uplift of Fata.
The governor, while welcoming the visit of the Prime Minister to Peshawar as well as his address to tribal elders, said that such Jirgas would definitely prove helpful to further strengthen relationships between the government and the tribal people.
The governor also highlighted the sacrifices rendered by tribesmen as well as their struggle for the cause of Pakistan and paid rich tributes to them.
In fact, he said, the entire nation feels proud of the sacrifices of tribes and added, it is due to their contribution that western borders have remained secured and they had always upheld the cause of Pakistan.
Because of the situation in Afghanistan, the governor said, the tribal areas have remained under tremendous pressure, particularly, due to the presence of Afghan refugees and certain other factors as well.
However, he said, the tribes have always confronted all such hardships with courage and upheld the prestige of Pakistan.
A tribal elder, Nawabzada Inayat Khan Afridi, while presenting address of welcome paid rich tributes to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz for his sincere efforts for the wellbeing of Pakistan. He also assured fullest co-operation on behalf of the tribes to the government.
Tribal elders belonging to different tribal agencies also presented traditional gifts to the Prime Minister on this occasion.