FATA-KP merger most viable option, KP CM tells US diplomat

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Pervez Khattak Tuesday termed the merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into KP as the most viable option, saying that it will ensure provision of efficient service delivery system to the tribal people in education, health and other social sectors.

He was talking to the United States (US) Consulate General Peshawar Consular General Stephen Fakan who made a courtesy call on him at the Chief Minister House Peshawar.

The chief minister said that his government sincerely hoped for the merger of FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. If our desire was to integrate the whole tribal belt into the mainstream and provide them better security and access to efficient services in education, health and other sectors, then merger was the best option for the tribal population, he added.

He stressed that the merger process should neither be politicised nor delayed. He also said that that majority of the people belonging to different tribal areas migrated to settled districts because of terrorism and the subsequent military operations to clear the areas from the miscreants. Even today 20 to 30 per cent of the people have opted to stay in settled areas because they could avail different services that were not present in the tribal areas, he added.

The chief minister attributed the comparatively peaceful environment in Peshawar to efficient border management activities, effective intelligence gathering and efficient policing. He said that the people of the province suffered in the past and paid a high price in the war on terror.

The international community needed to recognise these sacrifices, he said, adding that Peshawar was a safer city due to the provincial government’s efforts.

Moreover, Pervez Khattak said that Swat motorway was expected to be completed towards the end of March 2018. However, some aspects of the project would take a little more time to complete, he added. He hoped that the whole project would be completed in April next year and would integrate the entire Northern belt, thus opening up the areas for tourism and emerge as the base of tourism activities in the province.

He said that in addition to the provision of billions of rupees for projects in different sectors, Peshawar had started three mega projects, including Peshawar Metro Bus that was nearing completion.

Furthermore, the CM said that another important project that was approved by the provincial government and had become part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor was the 180 kilometres long railway project that would integrate the five districts of Peshawar valley including Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi and Charsadda.