GHALANAI/KHAR: Consultations on the federal government’s 10-year development plan for merged districts were held in Mohmand and Bajaur tribal districts on Wednesday.

A consultative meeting occurred at the Jirga Hall in Ghalanai, the headquarters of Mohmand district, with heads of the relevant departments, elders, Mohmand deputy commissioner Iftikhar Alam, Upper Mohmand assistant commissioner Waseem Akhtar, and representatives of the planning and development department and Strategic Support Unit of the CM Secretariat.

The speakers said a draft 10-year development plan had been prepared for merged districts with the help of the United Nations Development Programme amid the likelihood of the erstwhile Fata getting Rs100 billion funds in the next 10 years.

Officials urge elders, elected representatives to suggest development projects

They asked elders, public representatives and officials of government departments to suggest ways to develop education, health, water and other sectors in the tribal district.

The participants shared views on the proposed development plan, especially regarding education, health, drinking water, employment, and Mohmand dam’s construction.

DC Iftikhar Alam said the Khapal Rozgar Scheme would be initiated in the district very soon, while the people’s basic issues would be resolved afterward.

Also in the day, the three-week consultation on the 10-year-development plan began in Bajaur tribal district’s Nawagi area.

Deputy commissioner Usman Mehsud, additional deputy commissioner Mehmood Ahmed Khan, officials of the planning and development department, elders, political and social activists, and traders attended the meeting jointly organised by the Strategic Support Unit of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and United Nations Development Programme.

Officials of the planning and development department, CM Secretariat and UNDP informed participants that the government had planned to spend Rs100 billion on the development of merged tribal districts every year in consultation with the people’s representatives.

They said the consultation was meant to make development programme successful and result- oriented.

The officials said though the government knew where to spend funds, the prime minister wanted to involve the residents in the process.

They said the successful execution of the 10-year plan would turn tribal districts the most developed areas of the country.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2019