PESHAWAR: The first meeting of the Joint Steering Committee held under the chairmanship of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has decided to install a solar system for houses in the merged tribal districts under rapid development program.
The meeting was also attended by Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Engineer Amir Muqam and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Mubarak Zeb.
The meeting was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister on Finance Muzammil Aslam, Additional Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, representatives of 11 Corps and other relevant federal and provincial officials.
The meeting discussed in detail the ongoing projects and the status of funds under the Rapid Development Program of the merged districts. The relevant officials gave a briefing on the development works in the merged districts, especially the availability of funds.
It was decided to launch a joint project to provide solar systems to homes in the merged districts under the AIP, build police infrastructure and strengthen FATA University. The briefing stated that the cost of the project to provide solar systems to homes in the merged districts was approximately Rs 13.3 billion.
The meeting also formed a technical committee to set priorities for the implementation of projects under the Rapid Development Program, which will consist of federal and provincial officials and representatives of 11 corps.
In The meeting, the federal and provincial governments agreed to give top priority to the development of the merged districts, restoration of law and order, improvement of infrastructure, promotion of commercial activities and employment opportunities.
The meeting was informed in the briefing that the low provision of funds by the federal government for the development projects of the merged districts has been causing problems. The meeting was informed that the federation had promised to provide Rs 100 billion annually for the merged districts; however, in the last six years, only Rs 158 billion has been received, while the province was supposed to get Rs 600 billion in this regard. Rs 269 billion is required to complete the projects approved under the AIP.
The share of the merged districts in the NFC is 4.8 per cent, which is not being provided to the province, and the federal government has not even given compensation to the displaced people of Waziristan. Due to a lack of funds, the provincial government is spending additional billions of rupees on the merged districts from its own resources.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said that the problem of the merged districts is not only of the province but of the entire country, and everyone should play their role in it. He said that the problem of the development fund of the merged districts is linked to the new NFC, which the federation has promised to resolve this month. The new NFC is the need of the hour and a requirement of the constitution, and if the merged districts get their rightful share, the problems will be resolved to a great extent.
He said that providing employment to the people and providing them with facilities is very important for restoring peace in the merged districts. The participants of the meeting resolved to work together for peace, development and elimination of deprivations of the people in the merged districts.
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