PESHAWAR: The provincial government seems to have focused its gaze on taking over assets of the erstwhile Fata after its merger with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rather than ameliorating the future of its people.

Provincial tourism department and other entities are eying Fata House Islamabad, Khyber House Peshawar, presently serving as office-cum-residence of deputy commissioner Khyber tribal district, and the century-old Governor’s Cottage in Parachinar, Kurram tribal district.

Recently the provincial tourism department has asked the federal government to hand it over the ownership of Fata House located in the centre of the federal capital. The department has planned to use the building for revenue generation.

A senior official in the civil secretariat, overseeing administrative and financial affairs in the seven merged tribal districts, said that centre had recently handed over the ownership of Fata House to the provincial government.

Sajjad Hameed, the general manager of Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, confirmed that the department had moved a summary to the chief minister asking for handing over ownership of the building to the corporation.

Fata House Islamabad, Khyber House Peshawar and Governor Cottage in Parachinar on radar of provincial govt

He said that provincial government already possessed Pakhtunkhwa House in the federal capital and there was no need for another rest house. “The department has planned to use Fata House as accommodation facility for tourists to generate revenue,” he said.

Pakhtunkhwa House is used for official meetings of the provincial government and accommodation purposes by officials, parliamentarians and MPAs from the province. It was constructed to hold meetings and conferences related to former Fata, accommodation of provincial governor, officials and parliamentarians from tribal districts.

Located near two five-star hotels in Islamabad, Fata House was constructed over four-kanal land at Rs80 million. The construction of the house having 30 rooms and annexes was completed in 2016. Despite spending huge money, the building still lays empty.

Sources in the civil secretariat told Dawn that the house could not become operational owing to disputes among different quarters over appointment of the staff. They said that around 70 vacancies of different grades were proposed for look after of the building and guests.

Former MNA from Bajaur Shahabuddin Khan said that Fata House was never opened for parliamentarians for a single. He was suspicious about the utilisation of the rest house.

“Bureaucrats built this well-furnished house to entertain themselves and the sitting government should hold investigations into some appointment there,” he said. If tourism department wanted to use Fata House as a hotel, then its revenue should go to the seven tribal districts, he added.

“The government should focus on reforms in the merged districts instead of disposing of assets of former Fata,” suggested Shahabuddin. He added that merger of tribal areas with the province had been confined only to documents as practical steps were still a far cry.

MNA from Kurram Muneer Khan Orakzai said that Fata House issue would be discussed in National Assembly and Senate. He said that government should devise a proper mechanism to transfer the assets of Fata to the provincial government.

British rulers, defunct Fata Development Corporation and attached departments of the civil secretariat had constructed forts, cottages, rest houses and guest houses in seven tribal districts. These facilities belong to the departments concerned.

According to reports, the sprawling Khyber House in Peshawar Cantonment and the Governor’s Cottage in Parachinar are also on the radar. Built before partition, the historic Khyber House comprises office of the now deputy commissioner, his residence, lockup and offices of relevant departments.

Sources said that fate of Khyber House had been under discussion before the merger of the district with the province. A proposal is under consideration to shift office of the deputy commissioner from Peshawar to Khyber after merger.

Similarly, the Governor Cottage adjacent to cantonment in Parachinar was built in 1895. The building, made of black stones and red bricks, has a historical significance where head of states and foreign dignitaries had stayed.

The British rulers had also built specious Governor Cottage in Wana, South Waziristan which is located inside the Scouts Fort. Same type facility has been established in the cantonment area of Miramshah, North Waziristan tribal district.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2018