Setting up of modern urban centres in FATA: Governor briefed Plan to usher tribal areas into modern era

Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Barrister Masood Kausar Monday attended a briefing on Tribal Areas Rural to Urban Centres Conversion Initiative (TARUCCI) project here at Governor's House and was informed that many donor countries had shown keen interest in the project and made commitment for assistance. Secretary Administration and Coordination FATA Abid Majeed while giving briefing highlighted different aspects of this innovative project said that the objective was social transformation of FATA from a scattered rural tribal society to more organized, cosmopolitan and progressive society. Two centres each in Kurram, North Waziristan, South Waziristan and Orakzai Agency whereas one each for Khyber, Bajaur and Mohmand Agencies has been planned, he added. These centres, it was told in the briefing, would have all the modern facilities in almost all social sectors particularly in health, education, housing, technical education besides municipal services and local industry. The residents of these centres will have all the municipal facilities that are available in other urban areas of the country. Local industry will get a boost thus resulting in increased employment and livelihood opportunities for the tribesmen. The Governor was further informed that donor countries and organizations had so far taken interest in the plan and few formally committed to provide assistance for proposed centres in Bajaur, Kurram and Khyber Agency. He was also told that notification of municipal committees at 14 urban hubs in FATA had been issued. The committee would be made up of elected representatives from different shades of society. As regard financial implications, it was told that the project will need Rs 2400 million for category A and Rs. 2100 million for category B of the project components. The governor described the project an innovative and good one saying that the concept was appreciable and should be implemented. Creation of modern facilities in popular sectors like health and education besides provision of adequate municipal services would naturally control the population drain from tribal areas to settled districts in search for better faculties, he added. "This will also help reduce burden on the available facilities and services in city areas particularly the provincial capital," the Governor remarked. He said that efforts would be made for the provision of required resources adding that we would welcome the donor's assistance towards this project. Secretary to Governor Sikander Qayyum was also present in the briefing.