TIRAH VALLEY: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sardar Mahtab Ahmed Khan on Tuesday announced a Rs3.5 billion uplift package for the remote Tirah valley, which had remained out of the administrative writ of the government since the establishment of Pakistan.

The governor visited the valley, which once had been a safe haven for outlawed outfits, despite early morning air strikes.

The governor said it is time for action, adding that no one should be allowed to challenge the writ of the government and vowed to end terrorism with the support of tribesmen.

He expressed hope that the government’s development package would bring normalcy and peace to the region as plans to construct a network of roads, education, and health centers were under way.

On the occasion, the governor announced the construction of a 90 kilometre roads which would link the remote valley to Bara, Orakzai and Kurram agencies.

Photo shows a view of the Tirah valley landscape.—Photo by Zahir Shah Sherazi

The package would also benefit the locals of the valley with 16 new schools to be established while the existing private schools would enjoy support through Fata Education Foundation.

The other development projects, the governor announced for the valley included establishment of a hospital to facilitate healthcare services, ten small power projects with eight water supply schemes, Nadra office, Tehsil Headquarters and 200 additional Levies posts to ensure security in the region.

The governor also distributed school bags and stationery among girls and boys of at least 30 private schools that were still operational in the valley.