PESHAWAR: The government has planned to spend Rs84 billion on the development of the North Waziristan tribal district.

A meeting of the task force on merged districts, which was chaired by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, was informed that projects worth Rs26 billion were approved under Accelerated Implementation Programme (AIP) for the district whereas schemes costing Rs28 billion were part of Annual Development Programme for the district.

A statement issued here said that the meeting reviewed overall security situation, progress made so far on developmental projects and matters related to governance and administrations in North Wazirstan.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Shahram Tarakai, Taimur Saleem Jhagra and Akbar Ayub; Corps Commander Peshawar Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood; Chief Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz; IGP Dr Sanaullah Abbasi; and other senior officials.

CM reviews security situation, progress on projects in tribal district

The participants of the meeting expressed satisfaction over the overall progress made in North Wazirstan and lauded the role of district administration and police in that regard.

Stressing the need for rapid progress on construction of public offices and other government infrastructures in tribal districts, the chief minister said that red letters would be issued to the departments that had submitted their demands regarding land acquisitions for their infrastructures.

He also directed the high ups of health department to focus on provision of medical equipment to hospitals in tribal districts. He ordered health and education department to complete rationalisation process of schools and hospital buildings in the tribal districts.

He directed the authorities of tourism department to establish three integrated tourism zones in the tribal districts to promote tourism there. The meeting was told that police department was fully functional in North Wazirstan and a total of 255 FIRs were registered in the district during the current year.

It was said that 900 police personnel had completed while training of 1,000 others would soon be started soon. Similarly, nine police stations have been established in the district.

The meeting was told that Counter Terrorism Department was established in North Wazirstan. A project has been planned to create employment opportunities for about 7,000 locals.

The meeting was informed that during the last three months, 52 nonfunctional schools of North Wazirstan were functional. The forum decided immediate deployment of assistant directors of mines and minerals and food departments as well as posting of required assistant commissioners in the districts.

The meeting directed all the deputy commissioners to prepare detailed plan for acquisition of lands required for provincial departments. The forum also decided to prepare economic development plan for merged areas.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2020