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PESHAWAR, July 23: NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah has said Afghanistan must not have any misunderstanding regarding the Mohmand border area, and asserted: “We have no claim over their territory, neither have we intruded nor created any other difficulty for them, rather, we are protecting our people and developing the area within our territorial jurisdiction.”
Addressing a well-attended gathering of tribesmen from different walks of life after formally inaugurating the new Khoezai sub-divisional offices at Bhai Dag in Khoezai area of Mohmand Agency on Tuesday, the governor categorically said movement over the border would not be restricted and the local people would continue to enjoy the opportunity of cross-border movement in future as well.
He said the area had remained backward for centuries but now the time had come to fully develop this area, enabling the tribesmen to enjoy the benefit of development. The fate of the people of the area, he added, would witness a bright change within next couple of years.
Besides hundreds of local tribesmen, MNA Maulana Ghulam Mohammad Sadiq, former senator and noted elder of the area Haji Abdul Rehman Faqir, Governor’s Secretary Sahibzada Saeed Ahmad, Fata Secretary (Security) Brig Mahmood Shah (retired) and Mohmand Agency political agent Sahibzada Mohammad Anees were also present on the occasion.
UPLIFT PROCESS: Referring to the development process initiated in the area within a short span of time, Mr Iftikhar said during his current visit he had inaugurated a number of development projects aimed at the socio-economic uplift of the area. The existing metalled road from Mian Mandi up to Khapakh Kandao, he added, was being improved to make it 36-foot wide which would be further extended up to the tail end, Mazari Cheena.
Moreover, similar roads would also be extended up to Anargai and Gosri areas, he said, adding that the electricity extension work throughout Khoezai area has since been completed. Regarding the provision of potable water, the governor said work on digging 27 wells was in progress whereas more 70 wells were being planned for the entire area to overcome the problem of potable water.
EDUCATION: Similarly, he said, in the education sector many schools were being upgraded to cope with the education requirements of the area and community health centres being established to provide medicare facilities to the people of the area. “We have started the uplift process,” the governor said, adding: “The area will witness real development very soon, thereby, helping the people in social sector requirements.”
Regarding opening of a separate sub-divisional office for Khoezai and Baizai area, he said it aimed at facilitating the people to have easy access to the administration in connection with their daily needs and requirements, which would also help people get rid of taking the pain to visit Ghalanai for petty needs.
Earlier, Mr Iftikhar formally inaugurated the new offices by unveiling the memorial plaque and hoisted the national flag over the temporary tentage office premises. He also inspected the office of the APA, tehsildar and other concerned officials established in the tents. On the occasion, he urged the political officials to always remain helpful to the tribesmen and mitigate their sufferings immediately.
BHAI DAG: He had earlier visited Bhai Dag in a long motor cad and was very warmly received by the tribesmen at more than two dozen places. People were raising the slogans of Pakistan Zindabad. During his second visit of the area within less than one month period, the governor laid the foundation-stones of various development projects worth Rs137 million.
At the first leg of his day-long tour of Khoezai area, the governor inaugurated the rehabilitation and widening of road from Mian Mandi to Khapakh Kandao, costing more than Rs30 million.
On the occasion, he directed the authorities to complete the project by the end of current year. He also inaugurated the first category D hospital in Khoezai area at Atta Jawar costing more than Rs10 million.
The 10-bedded hospital will have four specialists besides all other diagnostic and medicare facilities. On the occasion, Mr Iftikhar urged the Fata health director to immediately arrange initiating the hospital without waiting for the completion of its permanent new building.
He also launched the anti-polio campaign by administering polio drops to the children at the Community Health Centre, Khan Beg Kor.
He was informed that during the campaign as many as 327 centres had been established in Mohmand Agency alone, where more than 210,000 children would be treated.
The governor also inspected a tubewell recently established in the area to provide potable water to the nearby localities. At Atta Jawar, he inaugurated the construction of a road up to Bhai Qila, a road up to Loe Ghakhi, besides a shingle road up to Anargai.
Earlier on arrival at Ghalanai, the governor was received at the helipad by MNA Maulana Ghulam Mohammad, Agency Political Agent Sahibzada and other officials, besides a large number of elders and Maliks.
Later, he laid the foundation-stone for the construction of Sports Complex at Ghalanai. Spreading over an area of 45 Kanal, the Complex will have football and hockey grounds, badminton, volleyball and basketball courts and an athletic track besides a shopping centre having 35 shops.
