The Finance Ministry has decided to release Rs 1.059 billion for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan Agency. An official said the amount approved by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar would be both for cash grants to IDPs and logistic operations. The entire amount would be released by the end of September 2014 and it is in addition to Rs 2.8 billion already released for this purpose. Dar stated that rehabilitation of the displaced people on account of Zarb-e-Azb operation is top priority of the government.
The government has so far released a total of Rs 2.8 billion to Fata Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) in four tranches." Dar said our government is taking all precautionary measures for disbursement of money to the FDMA and complete the details of all expenditures incurred from June till the end of August has been obtained from the authority before the release of the amount. As many as 60,000 families are receiving Rs 12,000 per month to fulfil their needs.
"We have also been working with international agencies for providing wheat to these internally displaced persons. Ministry of National Food Security and Research has released 25,000 tons of wheat to the World Food Programme and Passco for displaced population of Fata and KP from the government of Pakistan, which speaks volumes about our priorities." "We believe in service and our actions speak louder than words," the minister said, adding that this amount of Rs 1.059 million will cater for IDPs up to the end of September 2014.