ISLAMABAD - Multidimensional reforms aimed at good governance, stability, development and strategic direction for FATA are need of the hour.
Federal Minister for Textile Industry Abbas Khan Afridi stated this while chairing a consultative meeting with FATA Reforms Committee (FRC). He further added that it is now imperative to have political, legal and social reforms backed by broad consensus. Political will complemented with vision can only steer FATA out of present chaos. The minister mentioned that FATA is a distinct entity with historic customs and traditions so it needs special attention. Political system needs to be made more functional and efficient.
The minister was of the view that proper communication network, employment generation, corruption elimination, accountability, merit-based recruitments and infrastructure development can only guarantee peace and prosperity in FATA. The federal minister lamented lack of education and medical facilities in FATA. He urged the government to equip the determined youth with education and further streamline their services so that they might not fall prey to terror elements.
The minister highlighted that FATA is blessed with natural resources and suggested that a proper mechanism must be evolved for the mineral exploration. He reiterated that good governance is the only solution to woes of FATA. The ambiguities in use of development funds and ghost projects must be addressed immediately.
The FRC has been constituted by Governor KP to frame proposals for reforms in FATA. The commission has been assigned task of consulting all stakeholders. Ejaz Qureshi, ex-secretary KP, Lt Gen (Rtd) Syed Sabahat Hussain, Laiq Shah, ex-secretary to governor KP, Mussarat Qadeem and Mudassar Riaz Malik attended the meeting. The delegation thanked the minister for his valuable suggestions and time.