ISLAMABAD, Nov 25: Years of corruption and red-tap have led to the lack of development in the tribal areas where the government is fighting the rising tide of extremism and militancy.

Decades-old abject poverty, lack of education and basic health facilities are the basic reasons behind making these areas prone to violence.

Records presented to a sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee on Monday revealed that several development projects were either abandoned incomplete, mismanaged or contractors ran away with the government funds. The sub-committee discussed the audit report of the ministry of states and frontier regions (SAFRON) for the year 1989-90.

According to the audit report, 11 units were established for providing job opportunities to the youth and generate economic activity under the Fata Development Corporation. The units included glass and marble factories, oil expelling and refining units, South Waziristan footwear and leather goods industries, South Waziristan tanneries, Tochi woolen mills and Kurram fruit products, etc.

However, the projects could not be run efficiently. As a result, eight of these unites were sold out and efforts were underway to sell the machinery of the rest of the three units. So far, the government has suffered a loss of Rs100 million by disposing of these units.

In response to these revelations, Additional Chief Secretary Fata Habibullah said it was difficult for him to fix responsibility. He sought time for a detailed report.

Yasmeen Rehman, MNA, who was presiding over the meeting, asked the official to present a comprehensive report to the committee that why these units were sold instead of running them for the welfare of the public.

The report said cases had been moved in the relevant court to receive Rs16 million which were leased to Swat Marbles and Quality Marbles.

According to another finding of the audit report, Rs3.8 million stood as dues in certain divisions of the communication & works department and civil works in Fata on behalf of SAFRON.