The Pakistan Army is extensively engaged in well being of tribal people through the length and breadth of Fata. The development projects in Fata are aimed at improving the quality of life in tribal areas.
The emphasis on these development projects has been laid to improve existing communication infrastructure, health care, management and development of water resources, said a press release issued by ISPR.
In this regard, a comprehensive plan for Fata has been planned, while South and North Waziristan agencies have been accorded priority to bring them at par with other parts of Fata, it added.
The release said that Rs 3.1 billion has been allocated for development projects in seven Fata agencies, adding that 94.6 percent of the total allocation is for the communication infrastructure. The construction of road has been given top priority in the army development projects so far 1,650-km roads and tracks have been constructed out of the total planned 1,911-km roads in the tribal areas.
Recently, Corps Commander Lieutenant General Mohammad Hamid Khan has inaugurated Road Inzari-Kandao-Chota Frontier in Khyber Agency. To enhance literacy rate in the tribal area, 32 schools have been completed that include seven schools in Khyber, 4 in Kurram, 11 in Orakzai, 4 in North and 6 in South Waziristan agencies.
To encourage and boost education standards in Fata, 50 students are being imparted education in the Army Public School at Bannu Cantt, whereas 5 students have already joined the Chinar Army Public School, Murree.
President Musharraf has very graciously approved admission of 5 students from Fata to Military College, Jehlum. The admission of 4 Fata students have been arranged in Sargodhian Public School, and students will join the institution on August 14, 2006.
Another important aspect of these development and welfare projects is provision of the free health care and medical facilities at the doorstep of tribes men. Since 2001, the establishment of free medical camps, specialist's camp and eye camps have been the regular features of the Army Medical Corps (AMC). Some 144 medical specialists, 150 specialists and 8 free eye camps, including 22 permanent medical camps are working round the clock to provide quality medical care to the tribals at their doorsteps. A total of 450,728 patients have been treated during the said medical camps up to July 5, 2006, including about 90,000 female patients.
Moreover, financial assistance on account of medical treatment has also been provided to certain needy people of Fata. Medicines worth Rs 40 million have been provided free of cost to the patients visiting these camps.
For provision of clean drinking water, the army engineers have constructed 25 water supplies schemes, installed 796 hand pumps, 18 tube-wells, 20 dug wells and 12 submersible pumps. In order to provide electricity facilities in Fata, the army has completed installation of 12 micro-hydel power stations in Khyber and North Waziristan agencies. These small stations produce enough electricity to meet the lighting requirement of adjacent houses.
A number of development projects in Fata, which include 1 tube-well, 2 dug-wells in Mohmand Agency, 1 micro hydel power station, 1 tube-well, 2 dug-wells in Khyber Agency, 1 water supply scheme, 1 dug-well in Kurram Agency, 2 water supply schemes in Orakzai Agency, 1 Girls Primary School, 1 tube-well, 1 dug-well in North Waziristan Agency, 1 dug-well, in South Waziristan Agency have been completed and people of the area are deriving maximum benefit from these projects.
Lieutenant General Mohammad Hamid Khan has instructed all concerned to complete welfare/development projects in shortest possible time, while ensuring quality of work.-PR