PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to give the residents of tribal districts relaxation in the age and qualification criteria for recruitment in its various departments.

Spokesman for the government Ajmal Wazir told reporters at the Chief Minister’s House here on Friday that heads of all government departments had been directed to prepare lists showing their staff and equipment requirements.

He said sports activities would begin in tribal districts on Feb 10, while steps were also being taken to promote tourism there.

Spokesman says locals to get all basic facilities on priority basis

The spokesman said the government would consult the local residents on ways to boost local economy. He said the government was committed to bringing the merged districts on a par with developed ones.

Mr Wazir said both provincial and federal governments were serious about providing all basic facilities to the people of tribal districts on a priority basis to remove the prevailing sense of deprivation in the shortest possible time.

He said Chief Minister Mehmood Khan had already directed revenue officials to address the people’s problems in few months.

The spokesman said the health department had been told to take necessary steps without delay for establishing district headquarters hospitals in tribal districts and providing them with essential medicines and employees.

He said the government was making serious efforts to fulfil the needs of health centers, educational institutions and other departments in tribal districts by hiring employees on adhoc and contractual basis and even age and qualification relaxation would be given to the residents in those jobs.

Mr Wazir said the local residents would be recruited in government departments, including police.

He said the chief minister and other ministers had already visited merged districts on the advice of the prime minister to examine the existing facilities and prepare plans for their development.

The spokesman said the government would extend the independent monitoring unit to various districts to ensure the presence of staff in hospitals, schools and other departments so that the people could see a real change in the system.

He said a powerful committee headed by the chief secretary had been formed for the implementation of all government decisions in tribal districts.

Mr Wazir said the committee would thoroughly examine the activities of departments in the region and take necessary steps for their improvement.

He said the chief minister had visited Bajaur and Khyber districts and would visit other districts soon to learn about the residents’ problems and order their resolution.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2019