PESHAWAR, June 13: NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah has said the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) will get a total uplift outlay of Rs5 billion — more than double of NWFP annual development budget— in the forthcoming fiscal, as the government aims at developing these areas through a rapid uplift strategy.

He was speaking at a Jirga at Miranshah, headquarters of North Waziristan Agency, during his visit to the agency on Wednesday.

Tribal elders besides Political Agent Ghulam Farooq Khan and other officers attended the tribal meeting.

The governor said that in a recent meeting of the National Economic Council at Islamabad, “we have chalked out Rs7.5 billion special package for the rapid development of the Fata social sector in next three years.”

Judicious use of the proposed unprecedented huge amount would help bring a revolution in the areas, raising the living standard of tribesmen, he added.

Referring to a recently-opened area of the agency, he said Rs200 millions special uplift package had been prepared for Shawl. The government intended to fast bring this area at par with the rest of Fata, he also said adding that the infrastructure of this area would be developed together with the opening of schools, colleges, hospitals and communication networks.

The governor told the Jirga that additional Rs800 million would also be spent on the uplift of inaccessible areas during the next fiscal.

The Fata reforms, he said, were aimed at empowering the tribesmen to run their administrative and development affairs on their own.

“We are offering tribes an opportunity to assume the responsibility of their development and bring their areas at par with the rest of the country in a democratic way”, he said.

The governor, talking about the situation on borders, appreciated the bold and courageous stance of the tribesmen, particularly that of North Waziristan, who had offered to form a Lashkar for the security of the motherland.

The President was also thankful to the people when he was communicated their sentiments, he told them.

The governor said he believed that the entire nation, particularly the people of tribal areas, were fully united against the enemy of Pakistan. In case of any eventuality from the Indian side, the tribesmen right from Waziristan to Bajaur would stand behind the Pak Army to defend the country.

He, however, said the tension on our eastern borders was easing, and expressed the hoped that it would improve, as the international community was trying to avert the war between the two nuclear neighbours.

The governor, talking about the situation on western borders, said the US-led coalition was busy to uproot the terrorists from Afghanistan, who had no other way out except entering the tribal areas or using this tribal belt as transit route to reach the settle areas.

The security and safety of our country demanded us to stop these people from entering the tribal areas and refuse them any refuge, he said, and urged the participants of the Jirga to cooperate with the administration to identify and apprehend such international fugitives.

They deserved no leniency and concession, the governor remarked, and expressed the hope that the tribesmen would continue their cooperation with the law enforcing agencies in rooting out these elements.

Earlier, Malik Mamoor Khan Tori Khel Wazir, talking on behalf of the Jirga and the entire Uthmanzai Tribe, had assured the governor that the people of the North Waziristan Agency would fight side by side along with the Pak Army to defend the country’s frontiers.

He also gave assurance that the tribesmen would cooperate with the army in the security of the western borders. Malik Nasrullah Khan Wazir and Malik Sultan Mahmood Khan Daur presented the governor with a traditional gift.

Miranshah Correspondent adds: NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah also visited Shawl, a scenic but inaccessible region of North Waziristan Agency, along the border with Afghanistan, and had an aerial view of the ongoing projects in the area.

Frontier Constabulary Inspector General Maj-Gen Tajuddin and Political Agent Ghulam Farooq Khan accompanied him.

Shawl, which comprises beautiful valleys and thick forests, has remained deprived of all basic amenities since the independence of the country.

He also inspected a medical camp set up by the Pakistan Army in the area and announced Rs100,000 for the treatment to the patients in the area.

Later, the governor visited the Cadet College in Razmak and attended the annual dinner of the institution.