PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan has said that international community should play its role in rehabilitation of internally displaced persons from Fata.

He was talking to a delegation of World Food Programme (WFP), led by Peter Scott Bowdon, here on Thursday, said a handout. The governor told the delegation that government was taking concrete steps to ensure implementation of comprehensive policy for the early rehabilitation and resettlement of IDPs to foster the development of this marginalised region. “Pakistan being a frontline state in the war against terrorism needs full support of international community,” he said, adding that quick return of IDPs to their homes required support of world community.

The governor said that resettlement of IDPs to their homes was the top priority of the government and being representative of the federal government he was looking after arrangements and returning process of the IDPs. He said that displacement of more than a million people from different parts of Fata was a big responsibility but ensuring their repatriation and rehabilitation was a challenge of bigger magnitude. He said that the government was starting the process in more organised manner as compared to the past.

The governor said that it was his desire to complete the resettlement of IDPs in 2015 whereas keeping in mind the ground realties, tribal people and elders should realise their responsibilities and must join hands with the government to make it possible. He informed the delegation that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was anxious about return programme of the internally displaced persons and was taking keen interest to expedite the process. The governor told the delegation that Pakistan was fighting the war against terrorism which was global issue and being front line state against terrorism it was international community’s obligation to help Pakistan to resolve the resettlement issue.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2015

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