PESHAWAR: President Dr Arif Alvi on Friday said that the people of tribal areas have given a lot of sacrifices for the country, therefore, the time has come to complete the merging process very soon so that the people of these areas can benefit from its fruits.
He expressed these views on Friday at Governor House Peshawar in a briefing regarding Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas’ (FATA) merger. KP Governor Shah Farman, Provincial Assembly Speaker Mushtaq Ghani, Senior Provincial Minister Atif Khan, Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai, Minister Environment and Forest Ishtiaq Urmar, Minister Law Sultan Muhammad Khan, Chief Secretary Naveed Kamran Baloch and additional chief secretary were present on the occasion. According to Provincial Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai, the president was apprised about the legal and administrative affairs of the merger. The president was told that the employment of Levies Force and Khasa Dars posted there would remain intact. He was further informed that the elections for the provincial assembly seats of the area would be held before May 2019. The delimitation work for the general seats was in progress which would be completed at the end of December this year, he was told.
The president was further told that for reconstituting administrative structure, cabinet committee has been made which would present its report within 15 days. President Alvi, on the occasion, said that the investors would benefit from the relaxation given to the tribal areas in tax for five years. The president was also given detailed briefing regarding BRT project. He was informed that the project would be completed after April 2019. The president, while appreciating the BRT project, said that it was a very good scheme that would provide better transportation facilities to the people. The president said the early completion of this project should be ensured.
