The oil and gas exploration companies, despite acquiring petroleum concession leases/blocks in Fata, are not undertaking exploration works. While briefing the Senate Standing Committee on SAFRON, which met here on Tuesday with Senator Muhammad Saleh Shah in the chair, Fata Development Authority chief Fida Mohammad Khan said that there were huge resources of oil and gas in the region besides large reserves of copper in North Waziristan.
He said that so far Fata Development Authority had completed various schemes including Dargai Small Dam in South Waziristan Agency and Dandy Small Dam in North Waziristan Agency, besides work on six dams was in advanced stage. He said that the authority had also imparted training to 5,875 youth besides 13,371 women were also imparted training in embroidery, knitting and tailoring. He said that work on Mohamand Marble City (MMC) was also in advanced stage.
Senator Farrukh Aqil said that minorities in Fata were not being given due treatment and the government allocated quota for minorities was also not being implemented. Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Lieutenant General Abdul Qadir Baloch (Retd) said that the government would ensure equal rights and opportunities to the minorities in tribal areas. He said that the minorities were being issued permanent residence certificate, which was equal to a domicile certificate and could be utilised for different purposes including applying for jobs and land acquisition.