NWFP Governor Lieutenant General Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai (Retd) has underlined the important role of political agents in the overall affairs of Fata saying, "their role is pivotal and would be further strengthened to run the administration effectively".
Addressing Political Agents during a presentation on Fata at the Governor's House here on Tuesday, the governor assured, "I give you all the importance and will strengthen your hands".
Fata Secretary Muhammad Shahzad Arbab gave a detailed presentation to the governor on Fata, including the law and order situation, development profile, political and administrative set up, socio-economic condition and budgetary allocations.
The governor described the situation in certain parts of Fata as "unfortunate" and "not good" and added "we cannot afford to allow its continuation".
The governor said the law and order in Fata was his foremost priority and remarked, "where there is no law and order there is no progress, therefore, we have to arrest and reverse this tendency".
Regarding development priorities, Aurakzai said that education, infrastructure, health, water supply, exploitation of mineral resources were to be given priority. There were so many other areas particularly in the agriculture sector that could be focused to pave the way for alleviating poverty and creating job opportunities, he added.
He said that on development side our aim should be to facilitate the tribesmen, adding the benefit of development process must reach to the grass-root level.
The governor expressed the hope for an enormous increase in the development outlay for Fata and urged, "we must devise a comprehensive strategy to enhance our capacity to efficiently utilise funds at our disposal."
The political agents should also try the same in the areas in their jurisdiction. The governor also stressed welfare projects for the under-privileged, handicapped people and special children and hinted to take help from various federal government departments in this regard.
He emphasised on creating an education environment in Fata and said, "we must encourage the people to educate their children and provide them maximum possible facilities in this vital sector.
Earlier, in his presentation, Fata Secretary Muhammad Shahzad Arbab while highlighting the law and order situation in Fata described the over all situation as satisfactory except North and South Waziristan agencies where he said extra efforts were needed to establish writ of the government.
On development side, he said the Fata ADP had crossed the figure of Rs five billion whereas the total allocation, including special development packages and PSDP projects reached to the tune of Rs 10 billion.
Secretary to Governor Arbab Muhammad Arif, DG Media (Fata) Shah Zaman Khan, Additional Secretary Security Sikandar Qayyum, Additional Secretary P&D Dr Fida Wazir and a large number of political agents of Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram, Bajaur, Aurakzai, North Waziristan and South Waziristan Agencies attended the presentation.