Fata projects continue despite poor law, order

[Naveed Yaseen]

PESHAWAR: Development activities are continuing in parts of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) despite the poor law and order situation there. Fata Rural Development Project (FRDP) is one of the organizations carrying out uplift schemes in tribal agencies of Khyber, Mohmand and Bajaur for the last three years.

The project has so far spent Rs180 million on execution of 456 drinking water schemes, 414 drip irrigation schemes, 102 kilometres shingled and 24 kilometres blacktopped roads, 219 flood protection spurs, 3,099 demonstration plots of various kinds, 905 farmers field days and 44 farmers field schools, establishment of 270 plant nurseries and forestation on 8,525 blocks.

The project has achieved its three-year target despite the worsening law and order situation in the tribal areas and risks to life as one of the project officials, Khurshid Anwar, was kidnapped and then killed.

Imparting of skill development training to 1,200 youth and formation of 1,500 community organisations was the big achievement of the project, FRDP spokesman Haroon Shinwari told The News.

He said the FRDP authorities were committed to bringing development to tribal areas that had been neglected and more development projects would be executed during the remaining two years of the project. He said it was a positive aspect that the tribal people had accepted the project and were fully participating in its activities such as training, jirgas, forming of community organisations, forestation and agriculture development.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=208798