KHAR, the agency headquarters of Bajaur, will have Fata’s first of the proposed 14 ‘urban hubs’ developed under the multi-billion Tribal Areas Rural-to-Urban Centres Conversion Initiative.
With a projected investment of Rs32 billion, the hubs will be set up in Fata to build a ‘cosmopolitan and progressive society.’ The programme is designed to bring about a social transformation in the region.
The project has been delayed for quite sometime because of security situation.
These urban hubs will have proper housing townships, improved municipal services, upgraded public sector hospitals and educational institutions, proper commercial centres and markets, improved trade and transport infrastructure, and better facilities for small businesses and industries.
Since the programme involves a wide range of economic activities, it will help locals to learn and improve their skills and add to private sector’s capacity to create jobs.
But the project performance would largely depend on the authorities’ ability to raise funds for it and to use them prudently.
Under the Fata’s annual development plan for FY2011-12, Rs46 million has been earmarked to initiate the project.
Identical hubs are planned at Ghallani in Mohmand Agency, Kalaya and Ghiljo in Orakzai Agency, Parachinar and Sadda in Kurram Agency, Miranshah and Mir Ali in North Waziristan, Wana and Sarwakai in South Waziristan, Darra Adamkhel in Frontier Regions (Kohat), Darazinda in FR Dera Ismail Khan, and Jandola in FR Tank.
Ultimately, these centres will also be connected to the borders with Afghanistan to boost bilateral trade with the neighbouring country.
The project experienced a delayed start because of fragile security situation in Fata. “First of Fata urban hubs will bedeveloped at Khar,” Sajjad Ahmad, Natural Resource Management Specialist, TARUCCI, said.
TARUCCI’s project management unit, set up at Peshawar, has started the process of hiring specialists for procurement, social safeguards, urban planning, infrastructure, and environment. Similarly, Expression of Interest has been invited fromconsultants for the spatial and structural planning of the hubs in Khar.
The total cost for the Khar urban centre has been estimated at Rs2.6 billion.
However, the success of the project appears to be a big question mark because of the capacity of TARUCCI to deliver and duplication of similar projects being undertaken by other development agencies.
The Fata Secretariat spent less than Rs7 billion on development projects in the last financial year against an annual development outlay of Rs15 billion.
About 20 per cent of the development works under the federally-funded component of the existing Fata’s ADP is oriented towards TARUCCI.