Provinces except KP not ready to give funds for tribal belt: Imran

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said the provinces except Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were not ready to provide funds to the tribal areas, as he addressed a gathering in Mohmand district of erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa gave funds to the tribal belt but other provinces said that they were facing a difficult financial situation, claimed the prime minister despite the fact that the former tribal region has been merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is part of the province.

The provinces are not ready to give funds to the tribal regions when they had promised to do so, Imran said.

He said the PML-N did not carry out development work except in central Punjab and completely ignored the southern parts of the province. The same was the case with the PPP which focused on interior Sindh only, Imran added.

During his address, the prime minister said the enemies wanted to create anarchy in the country.

He said the government was aiming at uplifting the weaker segments of society. “The principles on which the state of Medina based upon are our ideology,” the prime minister said.

Prime Minister also assured to provide all possible funds for the socio-economic development of tribal districts.

He said the Ministry of Planning has been given directions in this regard.

The prime minister pointed out that the tribal districts lag far behind in development. He said our focus is to establish such industries in the tribal districts which could export goods to Afghanistan and up to the Central Asian States.

Khan said border markets are also being opened which will provide opportunities to the local people to trade with Afghanistan.

The prime minister warned the enemy wants to stoke anarchy in the tribal districts and is supporting and providing funds to those elements who were opposed to the merger of tribal districts with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Hence, no stone be left turned to meet the development needs of these neglected areas.

Khan said the focus of the present government is to uplift the weaker segments of the society and develop the backward areas including those in Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan.

Alluding to the commencement of talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, the Prime Minister said we pray for the successful outcome of the negotiations.

He said peace in Afghanistan will open new vistas of opportunities for the people of tribal districts. He, however, warned that there are elements which do not want peace in Afghanistan.

Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated Nahakki Tunnel and Sheikh Zayed Road in Mohmand. It is named after Sheikh Zayed as the UAE government has funded the project.

He was briefed by the officials on the development projects in Mohmand district.

Later, the Prime Minister visited Bajaur District and perform the groundbreaking of Timargarh-Khar-Mamad Gat road and will also address the notables.

These projects will provide better means of transportation, trade, and job opportunities to the people of Mohmand and Bajaur.

The Prime Minister will also visit Peshawar and inaugurate the Surgical and Allied Services Block of Lady Reading Hospital.