The committee also called for the establishment of a modern engineering university and a medical college in the erstwhile Fata with campuses in all tribal districts to provide quality higher education to the residents on their doorstep.
The committee met here at the civil secretariat with its chairman, Senator Usman Kakar, in the chair.
Senators Azeem Musakhel, Nighat Mirza, Momin Khan Afridi and Fida Mohammad, Members National Assembly (MNA) from tribal districts, including Munir Orakzai and Fida Mohammad Khan, attended the meeting.
KP Additional Chief Secretary Dr Shahzad Bangash, ACS for tribal districts Sikandar Qayyum, P&D secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Safron joint secretary Rana Ikhlaq and law and order secretary Zubair Qureshi briefed the committee about the issues and challenges, and government reforms and projects for development of backward areas in KP.
The committee recommended the setting up of university campuses in all tribal districts, increase in funds for water and dams in Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for new hydropower projects, construction of already announced Bajaur-Wana Highway, filling of around 8,000 vacancies mostly in education and health departments, construction of an international standard stadium in all tribal districts, scholarship for tribal students enrolled in professional colleges, and conducting of fresh survey for population census in tribal districts along scientific lines.
It also called for the development of tourism sector in northern areas of KP, construction of a cadet college, engineering university campus, establishment of middle and girls schools, construction of Kalash Road in Chitral, and the 24 hours opening of Lowari tunnel.
The committee chairman said massive afforestation should be carried out in Chitral, while tangible efforts should be taken for prevention of illicit cutting of trees besides provision of gas and electricity facilities to all deprived areas.
He sought a report on the schools and colleges destroyed in KP and erstwhile Fata by militants during the last 16 years along with the people killed and injured and health centres, bridges and roads damaged during militancy.
Mr Kakar also sought a report about the internally displaced persons, who have yet to return to native areas.
He said the country couldn’t achieve progress unless financial resources were distributed to the federating units on the basis of justice and merit.
Earlier, the committee was briefed about the government reforms and projects initiated to bring the less developed areas on par with developed regions of the country.
ACS Fata Sikandar Qayyum told the committee that the levies and khasadar personnel would be merged in KP police, while no employee would be laid down.
He said the surplus staff members would be adjusted in the district municipal administration.
The official said 96 per cent of the IDPs had returned to tribal districts, while work on the modern Shahid Afridi Cricket Stadium was under way in Bara.
He said the tribal region’s development budget had surged from Rs16,580 million in 2012-13 to Rs240,10 million in 2017-18, while around 1,292 schemes were completed at a cost of Rs59,846.924 million in tribal districts.
