GHALANAI/KHAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Eng Shaukatullah Khan has said that the process of dialogue between the government and Taliban is progressing in right direction.

Addressing a jirga in Mohmand Agency on Wednesday, he said that restoration of peace was vital for development in tribal areas. He said that Rustam Shah Mohmand, a member of government negotiation team, was a tribesman and real representative of tribal people. He has the quality to make the talks process a success, he added.

The governor said that they were observing the situation to take a decision about holding local government polls in tribal areas. “Situation in Mohmand Agency is better as compared to rest of the Fata,” he added.The governor directed the officials of political administration to resolve problems of tribal people and ensure provision of basic amenities to them.

He said that transparency was being ensured in execution of development projects in tribal areas.

Responding to the demands presented to him in the welcome address, the governor said that work on construction of Nahaqi tunnel was expected to be completed by the end of next year. He said that education, health and communication sectors were top priorities.

Earlier, tribal elder Malik Mohammad Ali in his welcome address highlighted the problems being faced by the people of the area. However, he said that tribal people were satisfied with the steps taken by the present government for development of the area.

Another elder Malik Said Mahmood Jan Akbar also addressed the jirga.

The political administration briefed the governor about pace of progress on development projects in the area.

The governor also paid a surprise visit to agency headquarters hospital and inspected healthcare services in the hospital. He asked the officials to provide life saving drugs to the hospital at any cost. He also directed doctors and paramedics to ensure their presence in the hospital.

Later, the governor launched anti-polio campaign in Momand Agency by administering vaccine to children in the hospital.

The governor also visited Bajaur Agency on Wednesday and met with local tribal elders. He told them that government was committed to improve living standard of tribal people and provide modern civic facilities to them.

He said that provision of modern facilities to the tribal people was the top most priority of the government.

The governor said that the government was determined to mainstream the tribal people as bringing positive changes in the tribal system was need of the hour.

“The government is committed to bring positive changes in the tribal system as life standard of tribal people can’t be improved unless the old tribal system is changed,” he added.

He asked the elders to continue their efforts for maintaining peace and writ of the government in the agency as peace and writ of the government were vital for development of the region.

The local administration took extraordinary security measures across the agency to prevent any untoward incident during the governor’s visit to the region.

Hundreds of additional Levies and FC personnel were deployed at various areas while all government offices remained closed.