Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra has said that peace has been restored in the country due to the great sacrifices rendered by our security forces and tribesmen. He said now we are entering the new phase of peace and development. He said time has come to reciprocate the great sacrifices of tribal people adding that steps are being taken for the complete return and rehabilitation of TDPs and wellbeing of the tribesmen.
He was addressing the representative tribal Jirga of Mehsud tribes from SWA at the Tehsil Sarowkai during his day long visit to South Waziristan Agency on Saturday. Besides, GOC 9 Div Major General Khalid Javed, Senator, Saleh Shah, MNA Maulana Jamal ud Din Mehsud, Commssioner DI Khan Dr Akhtar Nazir, Political agent SWA, Zafar Ul Islam, and officials of Fata Secretariat were also present on this occasion.
The Governor distributed compensation cheques among the affected families of South Waziristan Agency. He distributed the cheques of housing compensation amount of Rs 37.5 million to the 100 affected families due to militancy from South Waziristan Agency in the 1st phase. The amount of Rs 400,000 has been given to the owner of fully damaged house while partially damaged house at the rate of Rs 160,000 per house. The Governor said that during the 1st phase, survey of 5,576 damaged houses has been completed in South Waziristan, North Waziristan and Khyber Agency and compensation amount of Rs 1935.440 million will be distributed among the owners of the houses without delay.
He said, in the 2nd phase, the survey of damaged houses was under process in the Tiarza, Sarowkai, Sararogha, Makeen and Ladha tehsils of South Waziristan Agency simultaneously. The Governor directed the relevant officials to further expedite the compensation process and said measures being undertaken to ensure all possible assistance to the affected families with transparency.
While addressing the elders, the Governor said that he is personally closely monitoring the compensation disbursement activities and is committed to provide all support to tribal people. The Governor said that financial assistance could not be the substitute to the sacrifices which the tribesmen had rendered. He said they are committed to distributing the compensation amount to all affected families without delay. He said that successful execution of the military operation by our brave army has restored peace not only in the tribal region but also the entire country.
The Governor paid tributes to the tribesmen and security forces for their great sacrifices, adding that now the time has come to take concrete measures for the wellbeing of tribesmen. He said tribal elders should realize responsibilities and come forward to play a due role for the sustainable peace in Fata. The great sacrifices of patriotic tribesmen would be remembered with dignity, he added. He said the dignified return and rehabilitation of displaced persons was the top priority of the government and steps had been taken to ensure the better education and health facilities and reconstruction and development of the tribal region. He said all the displaced persons from FATA would be sent back to their native homes till the end of this year.
The elders from SWA apprised the Governor about the problems and difficulties which the people of the area are faced with. The Governor assured them to redress their grievances on priority. The Governor said major development projects worth billions of rupees has been initiated in tribal areas and further steps would be taken bring the tribesmen into mainstream.