PESHAWAR
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Muhammad Shehzad Arbab on Friday chaired a presentation on developmental projects in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
The presentation was arranged by the FATA Development Authority in its provincial headquarters in Hayatabad, Peshawar.
FATA DA Chief Executive Fida Wazir briefed the chief secretary on the sector-wise allocation of funds in the Annual Development Programme 2013-14, the achievements so far made, impacts of the development projects, monitoring arrangements and position of all the completed, ongoing and new schemes in FATA.
The CS was told that Dargai Pal dam in South Waziristan Agency and Dandy dam in North Waziristan Agency had been completed and work on another six dams in FATA was in progress. He was told that feasibility study of Bara dam and 13 other small dams had been completed in 2009 while feasibility and designs of nine dams had also been finalised. The CS was also briefed on the solar projects in community drinking water, hospitals, education, industries, check posts and common places.
The CS was informed that in mineral sector an agreement had been signed with M/S Royal Foundry for establishing ferro manganese plant where 10,000 tonnes of ores would be processed annually. It was disclosed that the total expected income per annum would be Rs 22 million. In this regard 10 companies had reserved 16 blocks for exploration of oil and gas in the region. It was also said that a project for provision of safety equipments for scientific coal mining in FATA had already been completed.
The chief secretary was told that 5,875 youths were trained in training institutions while 13,371 women were being imparted embroidery, knitting and tailoring training. Moreover, 2,206 young people were imparted on-job training under the field internship programme while 1,752 youths were trained under entrepreneurship training programme.
The chief secretary was also informed on the progress of work on different phases of the Mohmand marble city. The security problems and damage to official machinery so far engaged in the development projects also came under discussion and necessary measures advised in this connection.
Progress of work on different small dams, including Raghaghan, Zao, Kand, Parwara, Chao Tangi, Baz Ali, Moto Shah, Sheen Kuch and Gandao was also reviewed and decisions taken. The chief secretary praised the development initiatives and emphasised for more coordinated efforts for the development of the tribal areas which he added was on the priorities of the present government.