NWFP Governor Khalil-ur-Rehman has declared on Wednesday that, under the special instructions of President General Pervez Musharraf, the 50 year's backwardness and deprivation of Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency would be removed within five years period.
The Governor, during his visit to Tirah, said the government had chalked out a vigorous plan to provide maximum development resources to the area over and above the regular funding.
Addressing a grand tribal jirga at Soor Kas in Tirah, Khyber Agency, where he visited on Wednesday, the Governor said the President fully realised the backwardness of Tirah and the needs of the poverty-hit and economically starved people of the area.
Earlier, on his arrival at Soor Kas, the elders and tribesmen gave the Governor a warm welcome. The Governor on this occasion also laid foundation stones for development projects worth Rs 100 million, including two road projects, up-gradation of a primary school to Middle status and construction of Levy posts and Political Tehsildar office.
Addressing the Jirga, Governor Khalil-ur-Rehman also announced 10 hydel power generating plants for the area, besides directing the authorities to plan the construction of protection wall along the river to protect the agricultural land from erosion.
He directed the authorities to prepare feasibility for construction of a dam, launching water supply schemes and irrigation water supply in the area.
He also issued instructions for early completion of road up to Khairbe.
He said that it was quite unfortunate that the beautiful and picturesque valley of Tirah had remained deprived of development for as long as 50 years.
Giving credit to the President, the NWFP Governor said, this is because of the efforts and interest of General Pervez Musharraf that the valley had joined the mainstream of development.
He said that construction of roads, establishment of schools, hospitals, provision of electricity and clean drinking water would be given priority in the development strategy for Tirah.
However, he added the agricultural and forest development would also be equally focused. The Governor informed the jirga about the discovery of oil and gas deposits in Tirah, saying that the government would fully utilise this natural wealth for the over-all benefit of the area and its people.
"You are the owner and you will be the beneficiary when the discovery is brought to reality", he observed. Entire income generated from here would be spent on the socio-economic development of the area, he assured.
He laid emphasis on the maintenance of peace saying the area is peaceful but some vested interests and criminal people were out to defame the area one way or the other.
He particularly referred to kidnapping for ransom incidents and said mostly the abducted people were recovered from this part of the agency, which was a big stigma on the fame and reputation of this otherwise peaceful area.
He urged the tribesmen to cooperate with the administration in busting the criminal dens and rooting out the anti-social elements from the area.
The Governor also cautioned the tribesmen of Tirah about the anti-Islamic activities of foreign elements who were on the run and might enter their area for shelter.
He said these people had defamed the entire Islamic Ummah and were creating troubles and problems for Pakistan as well.
"They have no concern with Islam, rather they are the fugitives of the countries of their origin and are now trying to use our territory for their own evil designs," the Governor observed.
Tribesmen are true Muslims and patriotic Pakistanis, hence they should not become prey to these misguided elements, he added.
He also urged the tribesmen to avoid poppy cultivation as the government has imposed complete ban on this curse in Fata, and would never allow its cultivation.
The tribal cultivators should preferably choose other cash crops for which the government would provide them every assistance and opportunity.
Regarding the development strategy, the Governor said that for the first time in the history of Fata, the development outlay has touched the figure of Rs 5 billion. In Khyber Agency alone, Rs 630 million are being spent on development most of which is earmarked for the development of Tirah.
He said the President and Prime Minister realise the need of enhancement in development resources, and hopefully the annual development budget for Fata would see larger increases in the years to come.
The Governor assured the jirga on behalf of President Pervez Musharraf that the victims of heavy snow-fall and torrential rains in the recent past, which caused enormous damages to the property and agricultural produce in Tirah, would be compensated and provided every possible help for their rehabilitation.
He also handed over 20 trucks loaded with edible relief items to the local administration for free distribution and assured that more such relief items were in the pipeline.
The Governor also laid the foundation stone for up-gradation of Government Primary School Ahmad Khan Kille to Middle standard. He also cheered the students, who were busy in their studies and distributed sweets and gifts amongst them.
The Governor also performed the ground-breaking of Saryana to Ochay-Onay 3.5km and Soor Kas to Saryana 5-km black topped roads, both costing Rs 33 million.