PESHAWAR, Jan 5: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Barrister Masood Kausar has directed political agents of all tribal agencies to effectively control kidnapping incidents to improve investment environment in Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

“This must be given serious consideration so that people feel some kind of improvement,” he said during a high level meeting, according to an official handout issued here on Thursday.

Chairing the 12th Political Agents Conference at the Governor's House on Thursday, Mr Kausar reviewed the law and order situation, anti-polio campaign in Fata, implementation on Fata legal reforms and the causes of unscheduled prolonged power loadshedding in the tribal areas.

Political agents presented reports about law and order situation in their respective agencies and briefed the governor about the steps taken to overcome the problem.

The governor said that as security environment in Fata was improving, the political administration should focus on the development of their respective areas.

The improvement of investment climate in Fata, he added, should also be attached top priority and potential investors should be provided facilities to encourage them to start businesses in Fata.

“The political administration should move forward, taking the tribal communities along,” Mr Kausar said. He appreciated the support extended by local communities against militancy and urged the political administration to further strengthen their liaison with the tribesmen.

He directed the political agent of Khyber Agency to effectively address the grievances and complaints of Bara tribesmen. The process of return of internally displaced persons to their homes should be accelerated and facilitated, the governor said.

Issuing directives to the political agents to ensure speedy implementation of Fata reforms, he asked them to coordinate their efforts and perform their duties proactively to ensure further improvement in the tribal areas. He said that strengthening of peace and execution of development projects should be the two major priorities in all the seven tribal agencies.

The governor said that promotion of sports and cultural activities should also be focused in an effort to involve tribal youth in healthy and positive activities.

Reviewing the situation in the wake of prolonged power outages in Fata, he said that tribesmen must be given relief. He directed the authorities concerned to work out a mechanism to overcome the technical problems adding to tribesmen's electricity related issues.

He said that Tribal Electric Supply Company and political administration should coordinate their efforts. The communities, he added, should also realise their responsibilities in improving the electricity distribution system in Fata.

The Fata additional chief secretary presented an overview about the implementation of the previous conference's decisions.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Ghulam Dastagir Akhtar, Fata Additional Chief Secretary Fazal Karim Khattak, officials of Fata Secretariat, commissioners of Kohat, Malkand and D.I. Khan, all the political agents, Fata director education and director health and Tesco chief executive attended the conference.