PESHAWAR, Sept 27: NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman has said that tremendous development activities were under way in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) in every sphere of life.
The governor was speaking to members of a study group from Britain’s Royal College of Defence Studies.
In response to various queries from the distinguished visitors, the governor said the impact of ongoing development packages could be gauged from the response of people towards development initiatives, which had already started bearing fruit.
“President General Pervez Musharraf is taking personal interest in Fata’s development and in this connection he has allowed the provision of primary education, basic health and clean water for drinking purposes to the entire population,” the governor said.
According to the governor, special efforts were under way to strengthen health and educational institutions in Fata and make them more effective.
Talking about measures being taken for the economic well-being of the people of Fata, the governor said that the government was making ful use of local potential for the benefit of the people.
In this connection, he mentioned the agriculture sector and said there were vast tracts of wasteland where the government had initiated special measures for their purposeful utilization.
For this purpose, he said, the plantation of weather-resistant trees, including olive plants, is also encouraged.
Simultaneously, the governor said, special measures were also under way to exploit the mineral wealth in Fata on modern lines. He particularly mentioned the copper, marble and manganese deposits in Fata. “With full materialization of the ongoing initiatives in this respect, this natural wealth will contribute in bringing about a clear change in the standard and quality of life of the respective people.
During a briefing the study group was told that the income generating and employment opportunities in Fata were very scarce and almost 60 per cent of the population was leading a life below the poverty line.