PESHAWAR: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Raheel Sharif inaugurated on Wednesday the first Fata (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) Youth Festival at the Qayyum Sports Complex.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan and Peshawar Corps Commander Lt Gen Hidayat Rehman attended the ceremony.

According to an official announcement, at least 1,785 athletes from the seven tribal agencies and six Frontier Regions will take part in 30 games during the week-long festival.

At the colourful inauguration ceremony, athletes marched in front of the dais.

The main feature of the ceremony was the Athanr folk dance by hundreds of youngsters.

In his speech, Gen Sharif announced plans to build a cricket stadium in Khyber Agency and a sports complex in North Waziristan.

He said major steps like opening cadet colleges and technical and vocational training institutes in Fata and providing admission to tribal students in military-run schools and colleges had recently been taken.

According to ISPR, the army chief said the military and the Fata Civil Secretariat had jointly provided various facilities to tribal people. And the youths of Fata had proved their mettle in the country and abroad.

“I am confident that they will further improve their talent after getting opportunities.”

The army chief said the journey towards sustainable peace would continue not only in the tribal region but throughout the country. And the support of the entire nation was required, especially of the young generation who will play a key role in this regard.

He said the nation had great expectations from youths to put it on the path of progress.

The army would never disappoint the nation, he added.

Gen Sharif said the participation of a large number of athletes in the event was a positive step. It is a proof of defeat of the enemies of peace in the region.

He said the objective of peace was being achieved because of sacrifices of tribal people, soldiers, personnel of law-enforcement agencies and the entire nation.

He said the nation had been fighting terrorists for a long time and the Zarb-i-Azb operation had played a crucial role in this war. He said the entire nation had supported the security forces in this war and morale of the soldiers was very high.

The army chief said there was a marked improvement in the law and order situation and the country was making progress. “The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a proof of sacrifices of the army, nation and especially the brave people of Fata,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2015