PESHAWAR, Oct 1: NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman said on Saturday that poppy cultivation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas had been brought down significantly.

However, to achieve complete eradication, the government was now focusing on certain reported pockets, mostly in the newly opened areas, through a political process, he told a 36-member group of allied officers of the Command and Staff College, Quetta, at the Governor’s House.

“The administrations in the areas are now entering into agreements with the tribes to persuade them to cultivate alternative cash and value added crops instead of poppy and the response is very encouraging,” he said.

He said the tribesmen were patriotic Pakistanis loyal to the government and the country.

“They are extending full cooperation not only in maintaining the law and order situation and other security efforts but also in the execution of development projects,” he said.

He said a high-powered committee led by a retired chief justice was working to introduce reforms in the Frontier Crimes Regulation. The committee was consulting representative of various segments of the tribal society to give final shape to its recommendations, he said.

“The document has to be amended to make it acceptable to the tribal populace,” he remarked.

In reply to a question, he said security along the borders had been tightened to stop illegal crossing by unwanted elements. However, he said, it was an uphill task to ensure complete monitoring of movement over the porous border in the mountainous terrain.

ELECTION COMMISSIONER: Provincial Election Commissioner Abdullah Khan called on the governor and discussed with him various matters relating to the conduct of the third phase of the local government elections being held on Oct 6. Mr Khan apprised the governor about the arrangements being made for the election.