September 15, 2008	Monday	Ramazan 14, 1429

PESHAWAR, Sept 14: The government is determined to curb militancy and it is working on a three-pronged anti-terrorism strategy, according to Acting President Dr Fehmida Mirza.

Addressing a gathering of people displaced from the Bajaur tribal region here on Sunday, she urged the people to support the government’s efforts to meet the challenges faced by the country. Cheques were distributed on the occasion to help the displaced people.

Dr Mirza cited poverty and illiteracy as the major causes of militancy in Fata and said that the government would start a massive development programme in the region. She said stress should be laid on education, health and other social sectors to improve the living standard of tribal people.

The acting president appealed for international help to enable the government to implement its development strategy.

She assured the displaced people that the government was working for their early return to their homes and said that parliamentarians would visit their areas to make an assessment of the extent of destruction and damage which would help the government to work out a relief and rehabilitation programme.

Besides, relief work would be streamlined to make their stay outside their areas comfortable, she added.

Talking to reporters, Dr Mirza said that the prime minister had announced a Rs10 million relief and rehabilitation package for Bajaur.

About the government’s Fata policy, she said that Pakistan would solve the problem of militancy and the government was committed to protecting the country’s sovereignty and defending its frontiers.

She urged the media to project a positive image of the country and refrain from broadcasting reports that might harm national interests. She said that President Asif Ali Zardari had contributed to relief funds for the affected people of Bajaur.

Later, she presented Rs10,000 cheques to each of the 200 affected families gathered there.

Earlier, the acting president held a brief meeting with NWFP Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani.

On her arrival in Peshawar, Dr Mirza was received by the governor, Chief Minister Ameer Haidar Khan Hoti, Speaker NWFP Assembly Kermatullah Chagharmati, senior provincial ministers Rahimdad Khan and Bashir Ahmed Bilour, ANP provincial president Afrasiab Khattak, MNAs and MPAs.