Names of the elected members of the newly formed agency councils in Fata will be notified by 15th of this month whereas the councils would become functional from 1st of December this year. Decision to this effect was made at a meeting held under the chairmanship of NWFP Governor Lieutenant General Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah (Retd) at the Governor House which, besides all the political agents, was attended by secretary to Governor Sahibzada Saeed Ahmad and secretary Security Fata Brigadier Mahmood Shah (Retd).
The meeting also decided to complete the election process on the vacant seats as early as possible so as the councils could be commissioned on 1st of December as per schedule.
The meeting was informed that the total number of the members of all the councils stand at 410, including 294 general seats and 116 special seats meant for ladies, Ulema and technocrats. Addressing the meeting the governor expressed satisfaction over holding councils' elections smoothly and in a peaceful atmosphere. However, he stressed upon the political agents to accelerate the efforts to get the councils completed.
The governor also pointed out that the councils have been elected for the period of four years during which their usefulness would come to the limelight. He also said that with the establishment of these public institutions it the lower level in Fata, not only the elected representatives would get necessary training but the resolution of the problems of the people would also become easy.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Talking about the responsibilities of the councils, the governor said that these councils would be fully independent in their performance where the annual development programmes would be thoroughly debated and changed in light of the councils' recommendations.
He also desired that each agency council should constitute committees on education, health and other subjects to monitor the working of various departments. The establishment of agency council in Fata, the governor said, "is aimed at empowering the respective people and involve them in the decision making process.