ISLAMABAD: The finance ministry released on Tuesday Rs1.059 billion for the people displaced by operation Zarb-i-Azb in North Waziristan.

Announcing the approval of the funds, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that the rehabilitation of the displaced people was the top priority of the government and “we have a firm commitment to restore normal life of the people who have been supporting the government in its struggle against terrorism”.

The amount of Rs1.059 billion will cater to the needs of IDPs up to the end of September 2014.

“Our government has so far released a total of Rs2.8 billion to Fata Disaster Management Authority in four tranches,” he said.

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Mr Dar said that the government was cautious in disbursement of money to FDMA and complete detail of all expenditures incurred from June till the end of August had been obtained from the authority before the release of the amount.

A total of 60,000 families have been receiving Rs12,000 per month under the government plan, Mr Dar said, adding that the government had also been working with international agencies to provide wheat to these people.

The ministry of national food security and research has released 25,000 metric tons of wheat to the World Food Programme and Passco for the purpose.

“This speaks volumes about our priorities; we believe in service and our actions speak louder than words,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 10th , 2014