ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday approved the provision of Rs 30 million for each MNA representing FATA for identification of public welfare projects which should directly benefit the common man in the region. He asked the MNAs from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) to work out the details of specific projects alongwith their exact financial implications. The Prime Minister was talking to a delegation of FATA MNAs led by Haji Munir Khan Orakzai which called on him here at the PM House on Thursday afternoon.The Prime Minister assured the FATA delegation that the Government would streamline the procedure of prompt disbursement of funds for the development projects of FATA region.As regards long over due demand of the elected representatives of FATA for the construction of FATA House in Islamabad, the Prime Minister announced that he would himself lay down the foundation stone at the earliest.The Prime Minister stressed upon the MNAs from FATA to extend complete support to the government with respect to eradication of polio from the FATA region.
He asked them to create awareness among the people about this fatal decease affecting the children in the area.The Prime Minister reiterated government’s intention to interact with all the parties and groups in the Parliament on national challenges confronting the country prior to the next session of the National Assembly, to be held on January 24, 2011.He further assured that he would direct the financial team of the government to brief the Members of the Parliament from FATA on the financial situation and due consideration would be accorded to their proposals.The Government, he added, is continuously confronting the challenges and has been able to confront the same because of its policy of political reconciliation as well as representation of PPP in all the four provinces and regions of the country.Leader of the FATA delegation, Haji Munir Khan Orakzai, MNA said that the elected representatives from FATA had supported and would continue to support the government in its efforts to improve the conditions of the people in the backward areas.He specifically appreciated the Prime Minister’s initiative for development of the backward areas in DG Khan.
The Members of the delegation assured the Prime Minister that they would extend all possible help in creating awareness among the people of the region about the ill-effects of polio virus through traditional means of communication.The delegation asked for timely disbursement of funds allocated for various projects in FATA and to streamline the system for release of funds.They drew the attention of the Prime Minister that a number of reconstruction projects following the floods and military operations need immediate attention in the interest of the people of the region.The delegation included Minister for Environment Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi, Minister of State for Postal Services Abdul Raziq, Senator Engr Rashid Ahmed Khan, Senator Haji Khan Afridi, Senator Hafiz Rasheed Ahmed, Minister for Zakat and Ushr Noor ul Haq Qadri, Sajid Hussain Turi MNA, Jawad Hussain MNA, Muhammad Kamran Khan MNA, Shaukat Ullah MNA and Zafar Beg Batanni MNA.Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Food and Agriculture Nazar Muhammad Gondal and other senior officials were also present in the meeting – APP
