PESHAWAR, Dec 27: The NWFP Minister for Science, Technology and Information Technology Hussain Ahmed Kanju has observed that people of Tribal Areas are patriots and their loyalty with the country is beyond any doubt as they offered great sacrifices for the country.

Addressing a public gathering at Bhai Khel, Landi Kotal on Saturday, he said that people were facing continuous loadshedding, lack of basic amenities of life, FCR and effects of the proposed Custom House, to be established at Torkham.

The minister regretted that in the present era when the world had become a global village, the tribal people were demanding for providing basic necessities of life and repealing of FCR laws.

He assured the people that he would raise voice for basic rights of the tribal areas and rationalization of FCR on all forums particularly with the federal government and the NWFP governor.

He added that the MMA government would do its best for the welfare of the tribal areas within the preview of its powers so that these backward areas could be brought at par with developed areas of the country.

Referring to the enforcement of Shariat in the province, Mr Kanju said it was not a simple task to be implemented at once but it needed legislation.—PPI