PESHAWAR, May 21: Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has underlined the need for including honest and dedicated people into the tribal jirga proposed to be constituted to resolve the issues confronting Fata people.

Talking to Malik Attaullah Khan Kokikhel, Ameer Salam Musakhel and other tribal elders from the Khyber and Mahmand agencies at the People’s House here on Sunday, Mr Sherpao said presence of terrorists had badly affected pace of socio-economic uplift in the tribal belt and it was duty of the people to play their role in eradication of terrorism.

He informed the tribal elders that the annual development budget for Fata would be increased from Rs4 billion to Rs10 billion. He said establishment of industrial zone in Fata would give a boost to duty-free exports across the country. He claimed that tribesmen were more inclined towards the Pakistan People’s Party and considered it as their saviour.

Mr Sherpao said some people were painting wrong picture of army and para-military forces engaged in maintenance of public order and restoration of government writ in Fata. He said operation in tribal areas was aimed at eliminating terrorists and non else.

He said the government had been taking all steps to ensure peace in Afghanistan as it was also precondition for prosperity in Pakistan.

He said Pakistan had rendered greater sacrifices for restoration of peace and contributed 250 million dollars for reconstruction in Afghanistan.