LANDI KOTAL: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said on Wednesday that development of the merged tribal districts and removing their backwardness was the top priority of his government.

He was addressing a jirga of tribal elders at the Army Public School Paindi Cheena, a remote locality of Bazaar Zakhakhel in Landi Kotal, during his visit to the region. Inspector General of Frontier Corps Maj-Gen Rahat Naseem, MNA Iqbal Afridi, deputy commissioner Mehmud Aslam Wazir and heads of line departments were also present on the occasion.

The chief minister said that his government was working hard to revive the damaged infrastructure of Khyber, improve quality of health and education services, construct new roads and repair old ones and provide jobs to the local educated youth besides giving a comprehensive monetary package to the traders of Bara and Tirah.

He announced upgradation of Tirah sub-tehsil to a full-fledged tehsil and construction of a hospital in Paindi Cheena. He said that construction work on the type-D hospital and educational institutions for Tirah would also be expedited while the existing road from Sheen Qamar to Sarhadi Chowki would be carpeted soon.

Announces tehsil status for Tirah

In an effort to curb illegal trafficking and strengthen border security, Mahmood Khan also visited Rajgal sector where he formally inaugurated border security fort, Chaghi.

Addressing a delegation of tribal elders in Painda Cheena area of Tirah valley, the chief minister stated the merger of tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a daunting challenge which the present government successfully completed.

He also inspected facilities being provided in the educational complex and the medical facilities in free medical camp established by the Frontier Corps (North).

The chief minister stated that developmental changes had been undertaken by the provincial government after the merger of tribal districts which included 10-year development plan based on short-, mid- and long-term goals.

He claimed that the provision of free medical facilities to all the residents of tribal district under Sehat Insaf Card, provision of interest-free loans to the youth under Insaf Rozgar Scheme and induction of approximately 28,000-strong Levies and Khasdar forces into the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police, during the past one year, was the evidence enough to show that the provincial government was focused on rapid development of tribal districts.

“The government is focused on uplift of all backward areas of the province in order to ensure uniform and sustainable development,” he said.

About development schemes for Khyber district, Mahmood Khan said that the ongoing projects regarding construction of 150km roads in Bara and Tirah valley were being completed on priority basis whereas special attention was being given to the proposed projects, including Barakas dam, for resolution of water-related issues.

He said that the buildings for establishment of tehsil and Tirah hospital would be completed by June next year, while presence of sanctioned staff would be ensured in all hospitals and schools of the tribal districts.

About the recently-passed Mines and Minerals Act, the chief minister clarified that under the new Act all the leases for exploration of minerals in the tribal districts would be given to the local people, which would not only generate livelihood opportunities, but also ensure economic self-sustainability of the people.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2019