- SAFRON Ministry recommends allocating 3% of divisible pool for political mainstreaming of FATA
- Committee on FATA Reforms recommends integrating FATA with KP
- Establishment o National Security Fund to be discussed
By Ahmad Ahmadani
Federal government is all set to table a socio-economic development plan worth more than Rs190billion for the war and terrorism affected Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in today’s meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI), seeking necessary final approval.
Similarly, Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON Ministry) has recommended allocating three per cent of divisible pool for political mainstreaming of FATA in a summary forwarded to CCI for final nod.
Well-placed sources disclosed to Pakistan Today that Ministry of States and Frontier Regions has solicited Rs90billion (three per cent) worth annual allocation of federal divisible pool for political mainstreaming of the FATA. They said the summary of SAFRON Ministry is based on the proposal presented by a six-member committee constituted by PM under the chairmanship of Advisor to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, to consult all stakeholders and propose concrete way forward for these areas.
Sources said that the FATA Reforms Committee (FRC) after intensive consultations presented its report to premier on 23rd August, 2016, and proposed integration of FATA with the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a period of five years, along with concurrent reforms including a 10-year socio-economic development plan.
The FRC proposed that rehabilitation and reconstruction of infrastructure for temporarily displaced persons (TDPs), such as roads, communications, power lines, water supply, education, and health facilities, should be undertaken by public sector agencies, while repair or rebuilding of private houses should be left to the owners themselves by giving them cash compensation at prescribed rates. This will not only ensure much quicker construction but will also facilitate the revival of economic activities and employment opportunities in the construction sector. Supply of non-grid solar units at subsidized rates should be an important part of the reconstruction phase.
Similarly, the FATA Reforms Committee proposed various measures for the socio-economic development of the area. The committee proposed a 10-year development plan which should include major infrastructure and irrigation projects, mineral development programme and integrated plans for FATA.
Available official documents with this scribe reveal that FRC has also proposed that to ensure an adequate source of funding for the 10-year development plan: the NFC should make annual allocation of three per cent of the available resources in the Federal Divisible Pool, in addition to the existing annual PSDP allocation.
Sources further said the 30th meeting of CCI, scheduled to be held today, is also set to take up a summary seeking allocation for National Security Fund out of divisible pool. They said the government has requested the CCI to endorse the proposal to establish a separated fund called, ‘National Security Fund’ by setting aside around three per cent of the divisible pool to meet the security related expenditures. They said the government has advocated the CCI that the National Finance Commission may settle the details and modalities of the fund.
Documents also transpire that the government is facing financial constraints and needs CCI’s consent to get allocation for National Security Fund out of divisible pool. The operation Zarb-e-Azab, along with displacement, rehabilitation and resettlement of TDPs has placed a significant burden on the federal exchequer. Also, around 100 battalions of paramilitary forces are being raised for the safety and security of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the documents reveal.
“Even though some of the immediate security threats facing the country have receded, the situation demands continued focus and strengthening the capacity of law enforcement agencies. Therefore, keeping in view as well as geopolitical realities in the region, the expenditures on security will remain a major charge on federal resources in the years to come. The federal government is financially constrained and unable to share full burden on security related expenditures. Therefore, the federal and provincial governments should share the security expenditures equally as the provision of adequate security to maintain law and order is a common goal,” documents read.
It is to note here that provinces of Sindh and KP had already expressed their serious concerns on the proposal of finance ministry regarding the establishment of National Security Fund during the meeting of National Finance Commission. Similarly, the provinces have also expressed their opposition to the federal government’s idea to end/compromise the sovereignty of all the regulatory bodies functioning in the country as sovereign authorities.
The federal government had earlier set a seven-point agenda but later on made a revision in it after it met with opposition. It later issued a nine-point agenda and forwarded it to all the four provinces for necessary intimation.
It is worth mentioning here that the 30th meeting of CCI would take up amendment in the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power Act 1997; Flare Gas (FG) Utilization Guidelines 2016; Revision of Tight Gas (Exploration & Production) Policy 2011; settlement of net hydel profit (NHP) issue between WAPDA and government of Punjab; allocation of National Security Fund out of divisible pool; National Forest Policy; annual report of the CCI for the year 2015-16; sixth Population Census; status review of important decisions of the CCI meeting held on 29th February and 25th March, 2016; inquiry into corruption charges of Kachhi Canal; matters pertaining to higher education and other similar bodies in post-18th amendment scenario; formulation of National Flood Protection Plan-IV (2015-25); import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG); and Liquefied Petroleum Gas Production and Distribution Policy 2015, during this meeting.
