ISLAMABAD: A pilot project has been launched by the Directorate of Agriculture Extension to encourage and set up a food processing industry in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

The objective of the project which has been launched in South Waziristan and Mohmand Agencies for adding value to agriculture produce on a small scale.

Officials from the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions said on Sunday that a project had been initiated in North and South Waziristan, the Frontier Region and Dera Ismail Khan to increase chilghuza (pine nuts) production and create market linkages.

They said there was a vast avenue for investment in the fields of industry, agriculture, livestock, mineral and forest in Fata, adding that steps were being taken to expedite the process of investment.

They claimed that there were large reserves of good grade minerals like copper, silver, gold, manganese, chromite, iron ore, barite, fluorite, coal, limestone, marble, granite, emerald and garnet in Fata. Further research and investigations, they added, along with extraction required investment from private and public sectors.

According to the officials, the security situation in Fata was not fully conducive or attractive for investors but efforts were being made to take the law enforcement agencies on board and extend every possible support to the geological staff deputed for exploration of mineral deposits.

The officials said it was imperative for all stakeholders, including the federal government, to invest in the field.

The Fata Investment Facilitation Authority (FIFA), they said, had taken numerous steps to foster investment in the region.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2015

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