Kerry-Lugar funds to be spent on Fata development:Gilani

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Thursday said the government attaches high priority to the development of FATA and would provide much more funds for the purpose to ensure provision of better health and education facilities besides infrastructure development.

Talking to a delegation of FATA MNAs led by their parliamentary leader Munir Khan Orakzai, the Prime Minister said the funds provided by the US after the passage of Kerry‑Lugar Bill as well as under ROZs would be utilized only for the development of tribal areas.

The Prime Minister said he would soon call a meeting of Ulemas and representatives of the tribal areas for discussing matters related to their areas.

The delegation informed the Prime Minister about various matters related to the tribal areas including bringing about improvement in the existing health and education facilities as well as the road network.

The delegation thanked the Prime Minister for announcing Rs.1 billion for electrification projects in FATA.

In addition, the government has also allocated funds for the constructions of Bara Dam and a Civil Hospital in FR Bannu in the next year’s PSDP, the meeting was informed.

The delegation appreciated the Prime Minister for taking all stakeholders along on issues of national importance.

The other members of delegation included Federal Minister for Zakat and Ushr Noor ul Haq Qadri and MNAs, Malik Bilal Rehman, Sajid Hussain Turi, Shoukatullah, Syed Akhundzada Chaan, Zafar Baig Bhittani, Jawad Hussain and Abdul MalikAbdul Malik Wazir.