Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Masood Kausar on Tuesday said the government was trying to turn the Federally Administered Tribal Areas into the regional trade corridor by developing communication network of international standard.
He was speaking to Khyber Agency tribesmen at Governor’s House, where cheques were distributed to victims of Jamrud suicide attack for compensation, according to a handout.
The governor said many roads of high quality had been constructed in South and North Waziristan agencies, while work on many was underway in the tribal region and that Peshawar-Torkham Road would be converted to a highway of international standard.
He said the government was promoting sports activities in Fata and providing vocational and technical training to tribal youth
to let them earn honourable livelihood.
Mr Kausar said peace was the government’s first priority, which, in turn, would pave the way for real development and prosperity.
He said sacrifices rendered by tribesmen against terrorism would not be allowed to go to waste and that the government
and people were highly indebted to those, who laid down their lives in the fight terrorism and militancy.
The governor said the government would provide all possible support to the families of terror victims and mitigate their sufferings.
He said compensation could never be a substitute of human life and rather, it was simply a token amount to indicate that the government fully shares grief and anguish of affected families and that the victims would be fully supported.
Mr Kausar said peace would be maintained in Fata at every cost as it had already badly affected all segments of the society.
“It is because of these sacrifices that we have achieved tremendous successes by clearing majority of areas from terrorists and miscreants and restored writ of the government,” he said.
The governor said people of the areas greatly affected by terrorism would be given more attention in the process of development and social development programmes.
He said violence and terrorism were unjustified in a democratic society, where people were the real rulers through their democratically elected representatives.
“We have democratised tribal areas by allowing political activities there. Fata people are now at liberty to join political parties of their choice and participate in political process,” he said.
Mr Kausar said the government was striving for development of tribal areas using own resources and seeking assistance from
friendly countries and international donors.
“We are facing a big challenge to rehabilitate and reconstruct damaged infrastructure in Fata,” he said, voicing the hope that the huge task would be carried out in the shortest possible time.
Tribal elder Malik Darya Khan, who also spoke on the occasion, said tribesmen of Khyber Agency were peace loving and loyal to the country and would never hesitate in offering any sacrifice for the country.
The governor later handed Rs22.3 million worth of 94 cheques, including 33 cheques valuing Rs0.4 million each, to the families of those who were killed in terrorist attacks, and 61 valuing Rs.0.15 million each to those wounded by terrorism.
He also announced provision of wheelchairs to people, who were disabled by terrorist activities, and handed over one to Shah Daraz of Jamrud.
Earlier, MNA Qadri led collective prayers for terror victims, especially those of Jamrud bombing.
Tribal elders, relatives of terror victims and Fata officials attended the function in large numbers.
No comments:
Post a Comment