Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Barrister Masood Kausar has said that situation in Fata was rapidly improving whereas peace had been restored in majority areas of Fata. The remaining pockets, he added would also be peaceful soon. Talking to media in Jamrud, Khyber Agency after formal inauguration of construction work on 132 KV Grid Station at Jamrud in Khyber Agency, he said that restoration of complete peace and normalcy in Fata was the key ingredient of our Policy on Fata.
"We want peace as it is a pre-requisite for development. However efforts for peace and development will go side by side", the Governor said. The Governor in the presence of local elders unveiled the memorial plaque at the site of the grid station marking the start of construction work that is destined to be completed by 5th April 2012.
Briefing the Governor the Chief Executive Officer Tesco informed that the project would cost Rs 700 million as per revised estimates. Comprising 20 KM long transmission line and 12, 11 KV feeders, the project on completion would improve the existing facilities in the power sector thus benefiting the remaining localities of Jamrud sub-division and other nearby areas of Khyber Agency.
To a question the Governor said that all the development projects would be physically monitored by himself and high officials of Fata Secretariat. "I will personally visit the sites to see on the ground progress of development projects", the Governor reiterated and cautioned that inefficiency and delay in development activities as well as sub standard work would not be tolerated and the responsible officials will be taken to task.
The Governor said that Fata had suffered a lot during preceding years particularly in the social services delivery and added that they don't want to waste the time any more as the govt. intends to remove the deprivation of Fata people and will remove it at every cost", he declared.
To another question regarding Fata reforms the Governor said that the Fata people would hear good news in this regard very soon. On yet another question about Drone attacks, the Governor said that the recent one in North Waziristan was strongly condemned by him and also at the highest level in Islamabad. "We have made it clear that such attack on innocent people is counter productive damaging our peace efforts", he added. Earlier, on arrival at Jamrud, the Governor was warmly received by local tribal elders, who garlanded him. Additional Chief Secretary Fata Fazal Karim Khattak and Political Agent Khyber Agency besides officials and a large number of tribal elders also attended the ceremony.