KALAYA/CHARSADDA: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan has said that militancy will be eliminated in Federally Administered Tribal Areas at all costs.

Addressing a tribal jirga in Orakzai Agency on Thursday, he said that the entire nation stood by the security forces and tribal people in the war against terrorism. He said that restoration of lasting peace in Fata was inevitable for stability and progress of the country.

MNA Ghazi Gulab Jamal, Senator Najmul Hassan, Fata Additional Chief Secretary Mohammad Azam Khan and tribal elders representing various clans of Orakzai Agency were also present on the occasion.

The governor said that repatriation and rehabilitation of internally displaced persons was top priority of the government. He said that the displaced people would be sent back to their homes very soon. He directed the political administration provide financial assistance to the affected families of Orakzai Agency.

Terms visit of Afghan president good omen for peace

A total 48,656 families were displaced from Orakzai Agency, the most under developed part of Fata, owing to militancy and subsequent military action about five years ago. Of those 29,051 families are yet to return to their homes. Several areas in Orakzai Agency have not been cleared of militants.

The governor said that schemes under Annual Development Programme would be executed soon in the area. He directed line departments to complete all ongoing schemes in the area within the stipulated time. He said that new schemes in health, education, communication and other sectors were also in the pipeline.

The governor said that schemes of generating solar power would be given priority in remote valleys of the agency. He said that road network played important role in development. He directed the department concerned to complete work on 60-kilometre road from Zerai to Dabori.

The governor ordered the officials concerned to complete agency headquarters hospital in Meshti Mela within six months. Delay in construction work would not be tolerated, he added.

The governor also administered anti-polio drops to children and said that anti-polio campaigns were launched in Khyber and North Waziristan agencies.

Also, the governor addressed a selected gathering of philanthropists, health experts and local elders in Charsadda district after inaugurating a newly established workshop for preparation of artificial lambs and eye hospital at Darul Rehmat the same day.

He said that peace in the region was in the best interest of both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Elimination of terrorism was joint responsibility of both the countries, he added.

The governor said that it was duty of federal and provincial governments as well as common people to extend support to the displaced tribal people. He said that federal government distributed billions of rupees among the IDPs through army. He said that provincial government also took steps for providing health and educational facilities to the displaced people.

Terming the visit of new Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to Pakistan a good omen, the governor said that it showed that Afghan leadership was serious in restoration of peace and elimination of terrorism.

He stressed the need for sensitising people about the challenge of polio eradication. He said that polio didn’t affect only a single person but the victim also became a responsibility for the entire society.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2014