PESHAWAR: The tribal districts are attracting huge foreign investment due to their merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and improvement in law and order situation, said Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Monday.

“After the (Fata-KP) merger and improved law and order, the overall situation has become suitable for investment and that is why foreign investors are flooding these areas,” the chief minister told head of the UK Department for International Development Joanna Reid during a meeting in his office here.

Finance minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra, special assistant to the chief minister Ziaullah Bangash, additional chief secretary Shehzad Bangash, secretary to the chief minister Mohammad Israr and other relevant officials were also present on the occasion.

The meeting discussed the overall developmental strategy for merged districts and exchanged views on the current law and order situation there.

A statement issued here quoted Mr Mahmood as saying that the provincial government has planned the development of infrastructure in tribal districts.

He said the government would go all-out for the provision of all facilities to remove the sense of deprivation among the residents of merged districts.

The chief minister said tribal districts had diversified potential for investment in different sectors.

He pushed donors for the scientific exploitation of those resources.

The chief minister said the people of merged districts had rendered tremendous sacrifices and the government was committed to their development.

He said he was holding meetings for the development of and reforms in merged districts.

Mr Mahmood said an advisory committee comprising elected members had been formed to involve the people of tribal districts in the overall developmental process.

He informed the visitor about the development plan for merged districts and identified the area for investment both in infrastructure and other sectors.

Ms Joanna appreciated the government’s efforts for the restoration of law and order situation and showed keen interest in the overall development of merged districts.

She said her team could cooperate with the government for the resolution of problems in merged districts.

Also in the day, the chief minister chaired a meeting of the Road Transport Board and approved a proposal to use part of the total RTB fund amounting to Rs230 million for the reconstruction and renovation of bus addas and terminals and the rest for its commercial activities through the finance department.

District nazim of Peshawar Mohammad Asim, finance secretary Shakeel Qadir, transport secretary Kamran Rahman, law secretary and others attended the meeting.

He ordered improvement in the current condition of all bus addas and put the system of transportation in the province along modern lines.

The chief minister said the provincial government would provide all facilities for efficient transportation in the province.

He asked the RTB to devise a mechanism on how to effectively use its fund for the reconstruction of bus terminals in the province.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2019