ISLAMABAD: The proposed merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be announced by the federal government after a cabinet meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after his return from Davos.

This was disclosed at a meeting on Fata reforms, presided over by President Mamnoon Hussain, at the Presidency on Wednesday.

Under the plan, Fata would be put under the control of the provincial government through amendments to the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR).

An annual grant of Rs100 billion has also been proposed for Fata development under the proposed merger and the amount will be given from the federal divisible pool.

“The decision to hand over the control of tribal areas to KP will be made after the first cabinet meeting after return of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from Davos,” Minister for States and Frontier Regions (Safron) Abdul Qadir Baloch told Dawn.

He said that all stakeholders had been taken into confidence on the issue and all their concerns had been addressed. When asked about some reservations of the JUI-F on the issue, the minister said the party had been convinced on the issue.

“The decision has been taken on the recommendations of all stakeholders, including the JUI-F,” he said.

Referring to the financial allocation for Fata development, he said it had been decided that three per cent of the federal divisible pool would be allocated for tribal areas’ development every year and that came to around Rs100 billion.

“This amount will be in addition to funds now being given for repatriation of internally displaced people,” the minister said.

He said that how the amount of Rs100 billion would be given to the Fata administration was still to be decided by the federal cabinet.

He said that tribal youth would be provided employment in the Gomal Zam Dam project.

Earlier, President Mamnoon said that the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) Act governing the tribal areas would soon be repealed under Fata reforms.

He said that the fata reforms committee had given valuable recommendations under which tribal traditions, values and culture would be protected. The meeting was also attended by tribal elders.

The president told them that the Fata reforms committee had laid down important recommendations for extending jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the high court to tribal areas.

He said that recommendation for increase in vacancies of Levies Force and modifying it on the pattern of police force would be finalised soon.

The president said that top officials of the departments concerned had been ordered to improve the functioning of the administration in tribal areas.

He said that the committee had also proposed special development fund for Fata which would be considered at the next meeting of the National Finance Commission.

The president said that in order to bring Fata on a par with other areas of the country, health and education facilities would be increased there.

“Similarly, in different areas, Nadra offices and power grid stations will be set up,” he said.

The president said that about 80 per cent of the displaced people had returned to their homes and the remaining would soon go back.

Published in Dawn January 19th, 2017