PESHAWAR: Social indicators in the militancy-hit Federally Administered Tribal Area (Fata), including education, health, employment, water and sanitation, are far below than rest of the country, according to a survey.

The survey ‘Fata Development Indicators Household Survey 2013-14’, shows that the tribal region has consistently been one of the poorest regions in Pakistan.

The survey was carried out by the Fata secretariat in collaboration with the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Islamabad, and the Institute of Management Sciences, Peshawar.

The overall literacy rate in Fata is 33.3 per cent, which is far less than the national average of 58 per cent (2013-14). Similarly, the adult literacy rate in the region is 28 per cent as against the national average of 75 per cent.

The survey shows a marked gender gap in literacy as male adult literacy rate in Fata is 45 per cent compared to just 7.8 per cent female literacy rate. The primary level net enrolment rate for boys and girls is 52.1 per cent compared to 65 per cent across Pakistan.

The survey has also painted bleak picture of the health indicators in Fata. The proposition of births attended by skilled health personnel is 29. 5 per cent, which is far less below the national average of 86 per cent.

The maternal mortality ratio for Fata stood at 395 per 100,000 persons compared to 275 per 100,000 persons for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The total fertility rate for Fata is 5 as against 3.8 in Pakistan. The share of fully immunised children under 12 to 23 months is 33.9 per cent against Pakistan’s 76 per cent.

The survey found that 27.9 per cent of children aged 0-59 months had experienced illness in the preceding 30 days. Such incidence of child illness was particularly high in Mohmand Agency (53.7pc) and Kurram Agency (43.3pc). Figures for childhood malnutrition (wasting, stunted growth, underweight) in Fata are only slightly higher than the rest of Pakistan.

The survey found problems with availability for health facilities, long distances to be travelled to reach them, and lack of equipment and medicines as well as skilled personnel. Women face major constraints in using health facilities, requiring permission from male relatives and being unable to travel alone.

Family members working abroad or outside Fata are an important source of remittances. The unemployment rates (15-64 years) in Fata are higher than the rest of Pakistan (7.1pc among adults in Fata to 5.6pc national average); unemployment among Fata youth is particularly high at 11.8pc (national average 10.3pc). This age group is the main resource pool for militant recruitment.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2016