September 16, 2007	Sunday	Ramazan 03, 1428

MIRAMSHAH, Sept 15: The volatile situation in the North Waziristan Agency is adversely affecting life in the tribal region as many public sector entities have either closed down their offices or shifted them to the nearby Bannu district.

Post offices, banks and other departments have moved to the safer environs of Bannu. And educational institutions have been closed down in Miramshah and Mirali, putting the future of thousands of students in jeopardy.

Some officials confirmed that commercial banks had closed their branches in the area and only the National Bank of Pakistan was running a small outlet inside the paramilitary fort in Miramshah, the agency’s headquarters, for disbursement of salary to security forces.

An official of the Pakistan Post told Dawn that its staff was pulled back from Miramshah and Mirali three months ago. He said field staff were simply unable to distribute parcels and envelopes because of the poor law and order situation there.

Security forces had also refused to carry parcels. A temporary counter has been set up in the main General Post Office in Bannu for North Waziristan, from where tribesmen collect their parcels and letters.

“Security forces are helpless. The main road between Mirali and Miramshah is virtually controlled by the Taliban,” an official said.

Hospitals too are in poor shape. Most non-local staffers have left the agency headquarters hospital, leaving patients at the mercy of a few local staff. Tribesmen now have to take patients to other cities for even minor ailments.

“Common people are paying the price for consequences of the military operation,” said a tribesman. He said the Miramshah town which used to be a hub of economic activities now mostly remained closed.

Sources said directorates of works and services, livestock, agriculture, public health and other bodies had abandoned their offices in the agency and work on development schemes had been suspended.

Ban on supply of fuel and closure of main roads to the agency has added to the misery of local people, though NWFP Governor Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai recently denied imposition of ban on supply of fuel to the area.

The sources said prices of petrol had soared and fuel was now being smuggled to the agency from Afghanistan or adjacent districts. The shortage of petrol and diesel has caused surge in transport fare.

Telephone lines in the agency are also out of order. And after abolition of the Town Committee Office, the Miramshah bazaar has become littered with garbage. Sanitation staff is not available.