ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that completion of uplift projects in the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) is his government’s top most priority and work on the much-awaited schemes will begin in the upcoming financial year.

The prime minister expressed these views on Wednesday while presiding over a meeting on the development projects in tribal areas.

A delegation of lawmakers from Fata, headed by Minster for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri and also comprising Gul Dad Khan, Gul Zafar Khan, Sajid Khan and Mohammad Iqbal, attended the meeting.

The PM said the federal government was fulfilling its responsibility of providing required funds to the tribal areas. He said the people of the area, particularly the youth, were very dear to him and he desired their immediate development and progress.

The meeting also discussed issues related to socioeconomic development of the tribal areas and coronavirus situation there.

Under the 2018 arrangements, the federal government had released its share of funds allocated for the uplift of these areas.

A committee headed by finance minister has been set up to ensure availability of funds in coordination with other provinces for the development of these areas.

The PM acknowledged huge sacrifices offered by the tribal people against terrorism and said he was taking special interest in the development and progress of these areas.

Gemstone City proposed

In another meeting, the prime minister highlighted the need for utilising natural resources, particularly gems and stones, which would not only provide jobs to youth but also increase the country’s revenue.

He said the country had been blessed with natural resources but unfortunately the previous governments had not paid attention to utilisation of these resources.

Mr Khan directed the authorities concerned to present to him a detailed report about how the gems and stones sector could flourish and how bottlenecks coming in its way could be removed so that a comprehensive roadmap could be devised to bring about visible improvement in the sector.

He lauded a proposal for establishing a Gemstone City in Islamabad with the aim to enhance export of gemstones and foreign investment by providing a one-window facility to the investors. The meeting reviewed the work on reserves of ruby, blue sapphire, emerald and garnet stones in the country, research and development in this sector, foreign investment, and coordination between the Centre and provinces for their export.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2020