Afghanistan-like situation if IDPs not helped: Tarakai

PESHAWAR: Lauding Richard Holbrooke’s statement in which he praised the people of Swabi for looking after the IDPs, a leading politician and philanthropist from the district, Liaqat Tarakai, cautioned Friday that an Afghanistan-like situation could develop in the NWFP if the displaced families were not assisted and rehabilitated.

Tarakai, who is chairman of the Liaqat Tarakai Welfare Trust (LTWT), said: “We are pleased with what Richard Holbrooke said about the people of Swabi with respect to their help and feelings for the IDPs from Malakand division. But I want to convey to the US and other powers that if proper attention was not given to the rehabilitation and honourable return of the IDPs to their homes, the situation can worsen like that of Afghanistan.”

He expressed concern over the administrative expenses of NGOs working for the IDPs and over the sale of food items, fans, water coolers and other stuff meant for the displaced people in the local markets. He was of the view that as the infrastructure was destroyed in Malakand and return of the IDPs would take time to their homes, they must be provided all basic facilities at the camps.

“We are grateful to Mark Pearson of the Shelter Box, Dr Pervez Ahsan of Rotary International, Sharif Khan of NRSP and doctors of Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad for providing tents and other facilities at Amn Camps established by our trust,” he added.

Liaqat Tarakai, along with local and Arab partners, is investing $1.3 billion in Suki Kanari Hydel Project in Kalam, which will generate 844 megawatts of power. “I am a Pakistani by birth and I will die on my own land. Apart from helping IDPs, I ask my well-off brothers and sisters of Pakistan to invest in their own country to boost its economy and ensure its stability,” he said.

His family was the first to vacate its sprawling house spread over hundreds of kanals for the IDPs. The Taraki family is also hosting over 15,000 individuals in state-of-the-art tents, having solar system to protect inhabitants from heat and provide them with proper lighting, etc.